Mike Kennedy on Abortion

Require abortions performed only in hospitals not at clinics

HB467: This bill:
• requires abortions to be performed in a hospital, with some exceptions;
• prohibits licensing of abortion clinics after May 2, 2023, but allows licensing of certain clinics for providing an abortion if the clinic meets certain standards.

Opinion by Planned Parenthood in opposition:Planned Parenthood Association of Utah filed a new complaint, challenging HB 467, a newly-enacted law that will functionally eliminate access to abortion in the state if allowed to take effect on May 3, 2023--even though abortion is currently legal in Utah up until 18 weeks of pregnancy. Because over 95% of abortions in Utah are provided at licensed clinics rather than at hospitals, this law will ban the vast majority of abortions in the state.

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 22-6-1 on Mar/2/23; State Sen. Mike Kennedy voted YES; passed House 56-15-5 on Mar/3/23; signed by Governor Spencer Cox on Mar/15/23.

Collect information on reason for abortion, race, ethnicity

Analysis by ACLU-Utah: Some of the information in question includes the reason for seeking an abortion, stage of pregnancy, and the race of the woman seeking an abortion. It seems clear that this bill is a thinly veiled effort to restrict women's reproductive choices down the road.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 56-17-2 on Mar/12/13; State Sen. Mike Kennedy voted YES; Passed Senate 23-4-2 on Mar/12/13; Signed by Governor Gary Herbert on Mar/22/13