LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KT) — At least three bills have been filed in the 2024 session of the Kentucky General Assembly that would roll back Kentucky’s current abortion ban, and pro-life leaders are calling on lawmakers to reject them.
On Wednesday, Rep. Lindsey Burke, D-Lexington, along with other abortion advocates announced the filing of two pro-abortion bills. HB 428 would essentially re-legalize abortion in Kentucky and HB 429 would make it easier for women to obtain abortions outside the state.
Jackie McGranahan, a senior policy strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, said the current abortion ban fails to recognize that some pregnancies are unplanned, complicated and risky.
“Repealing the current abortion ban in Kentucky is not about promoting one choice over another,” she said. “It’s about recognizing that pregnancy can be complicated. And it’s our duty to ensure individuals have the autonomy to make decisions that are best for their health, their families and their future.”
The bills come on the heels of a bill filed by Sen. David Yates, D-Louisville, that would add rape and incest exceptions to the current law that bans most abortions.
Pro-life leaders say the bills would result in the killing of more unborn children and called on lawmakers to take steps to protect and care for both mothers and the children.
“Kentucky Baptists urge lawmakers to reject any attempt to unravel our state’s current abortion law. Women who are victims of rape and incest should absolutely be cared for and perpetrators punished to the full extent of the law. But killing the unborn child because of the way in which he or she was conceived just adds to the tragedy,” said Kentucky Baptist Convention Executive Director Todd Gray.
“Kentucky Baptists made our convictions clear in a resolution passed last year which read, in part, ‘…as God’s image-bearers, all humans display His divine worth, power, and attributes, and thus possess objective worth not varying based on incidental characteristics such as ethnicity, age, size, means of conception, mental development, physical development, sex, potential, or contribution to society.’”
“Kentucky must continue to chart a path forward by building a compassionate culture of life that values both mother and child,” said David Walls, executive director of the Family Foundation of Kentucky. “The calls by the pro-abortion industry to re-legalize killing unborn children and move Kentucky backwards in protecting human rights should be flatly rejected.”
Burke acknowledged passage of the bills is not likely with Republicans holding supermajorities in both the House and the Senate.
“I think the truth is that there’s very little appetite for change, at least among the supermajority,” Burke said.
“I am thankful that the strong, pro-life majorities in the General Assembly are actively working to move Kentucky forward with pro-life policies that provide support for babies, moms, and families,” Walls said.
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