NC Democrats Continue Fighting the Good Fight; Introducing Another Bill to Codify Abortion Access Protections

Source: Port City Daily

Four North Carolina House Representatives have introduced a bill that would lower statewide restrictions on abortion, according to Port City Daily. Reps. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover), Julie von Haefen (D-Wake), Lindsey Prather (D-Buncombe) and Maria Cervania (D-Wake) are the four sponsors of House Bill 439, which would codify abortion access. 

As it stands now, abortion is legal in North Carolina up to 20 weeks and requires a 72-hour waiting period before the procedure as well as state-directed counseling. Any physicians in the state who perform an abortion after 20 weeks are required by law to submit proof that it was a medical emergency. 

House Bill 439 would change that though. The bill is titled Remove Barriers to Gain Access (RGB) Act and it would legalize abortion until viability, as outlined by Roe v. Wade. HB 439 would also abolish the 72-hour waiting period. 

Currently, insurance does not cover abortion, and North Carolina only allows Medicaid and state health insurance to cover the procedure in situations of life endangerment, rape or incest. The proposed bill would permit health insurance providers to cover the costs of abortion in all cases and would allow psychological and emotional conditions to constitute a medical emergency, justifying an abortion up to viability. 

“Abortion is health care,” Rep. Deb Butler told Port City Daily. “Everyone should have the freedom to plan families as they see fit. We have put stumbling blocks in front of women, unreasonable waiting periods, causing people hardships in an already difficult circumstance.”

Additionally, the proposed bill would address restrictions on who can oversee procedures; currently, only licensed physicians can oversee the procedures, but HB 439 would expand the ability to nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives. Considering that 91% of North Carolina counties do not have a licensed abortion provider, this would expand access to abortion in rural areas that desperately need it. 

A group of House Republicans have recently introduced a full abortion ban and Republican leaders in the House and Senate are continuing to have closed-door conversations about what restrictions they will advance this session. 

Meanwhile, Democrats in the General Assembly continue to put forth proposals to protect reproductive rights for all North Carolinians.

Read more from Port City Daily

Share:

More Posts

NC House Democrats Stand United Against SB 153

SB 153 is a right-wing bill that would burden local law enforcement, infringe on the rights of local governments, and further empower ICE to perform unconstitutional raids on North Carolina communities. 

Redadas de ICE en Charlotte y Concord: Intensificación de Arrestos de Inmigrantes en Carolina del Norte

En una reunión celebrada el 21 de mayo en la sede de ICE en Washington, el principal asesor del presidente Trump, Stephen Miller, y la secretaría de Seguridad Nacional, Kristi Noem, instruyeron a los oficiales de inmigración a aumentar los arrestos diarios a 3,000, triplicando la cifra alcanzada en los primeros meses del mandato de Trump. Este objetivo forma parte de un esfuerzo por ejecutar la operación de deportación más grande en la historia de Estados Unidos. 

Trump’s FEMA Denies North Carolina’s Hurricane Helene Aid Request, Again

“FEMA’s denial of our appeal will cost North Carolina taxpayers potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up out west,” Stein explained. “The money we have to pay toward debris removal will mean less money toward supporting our small businesses, rebuilding downtown infrastructure, repairing our water and sewer systems, and other critical needs.”

3 Million People Could Lose SNAP Under GOP Plan, Gov. Stein Warns of NC Fallout

“If Congress goes forward with these plans, our state will be forced into perilous budget decisions – should North Carolinians lose access to food, or should we get rid of other essential services?” Gov. Stein wrote. “I urge our members of Congress to reject this budget proposal so that North Carolina families don’t go hungry.”