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Oklahoma Governor Signs Three Major Anti-Abortion Bills

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs House Bill 1904 into law.
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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs House Bill 1904 into law.

The Oklahoma Legislature passed a slew of anti-abortion bills so far this session, and Gov. Kevin Stitt signed three into law on Monday.

His office released a statement, which said the governor is following through on his promise to sign all anti-abortion measures that make it to his desk.

The most restrictive bill — House Bill 1102 — would revoke a medical license as punishment for performing abortions, with a minimum penalty of one year's suspension. There's an exception for an abortion that saves the pregnant person's life, including for people who doctors believe are imminently suicidal.

House Bill 2441, the so-called heartbeat bill, outlaws abortion once a heartbeat can be detected. Usually, that's around the six-week mark, before most people know they're pregnant. That bill also has an exception for life-saving abortions.

House Bill 1904 requires anyone performing an abortion, including those performed by giving someone medication, to be a board-certified OBGYN. That would put Norman's only abortion provider, a general surgeon, out of business.

Pro-choice advocates have criticized this legislation for several reasons, including the likelihood they will spur costly lawsuits and probably be struck down, as similar measures have in the past.

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Catherine Sweeney was StateImpact Oklahoma's health reporter from 2020 to 2023.
Ryan Gaylor is a freelance reporter.
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