LANSING, Mich., Jan. 11, 2023 — Michigan voters showed up in droves last November to protect a person’s right to reproductive freedom. The new amendment was added to the state’s Constitution just before Christmas and allows individuals to make decisions about their prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management and infertility care. The Democratic-led Michigan House of Representatives introduced House Bill 4006 to remove the now-unenforceable 1931 abortion ban that still remains in Michigan’s Constitution.
“Affirming a person’s right to abortion and reproductive freedom was Democrats’ priority throughout the previous year and remains our priority today,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia). “The government does not belong in the exam room as people make private medical decisions. We must repeal old laws that no longer reflect the will of Michigan voters. The 1931 abortion ban criminalized medical providers for performing essential health care. House Bill 4006 guarantees that a pregnant person and their health care providers have the right to dictate their medical decisions without fear of prosecution.”
Democrats introduced a bill last term that would have repealed the 1931 abortion ban, which makes it a felony to provide an abortion service with no exceptions for rape or incest. Pohutsky, along with fellow House Democrats, filed numerous motions to discharge that legislation but were denied the opportunity for a full House vote by the Republican-led Legislature.
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