LANSING, Mich., March 2, 2023 — A bipartisan group of members of the Michigan House voted today to ensure state law reflects the will of the voters by eliminating the unenforceable 1931 abortion ban. The move comes after Democrats took the majority in the House for the first time since 2011 and follows the passage of Proposal 3, which enshrined reproductive freedoms in the Michigan Constitution.
“House Democrats promised to deliver on the policies that matter to Michiganders. The people of Michigan voted to ensure access to reproductive healthcare is protected by the Michigan Constitution and our state laws should reflect the will of the voters,” said Speaker of the House Joe Tate (D-Detroit). “It is a historic day. Eliminating the archaic state law that criminalizes abortion care illustrates that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are united in serving the people of this state. Even more importantly, this Democratic-led effort protects reproductive health care choices and individual freedoms.”
House Bill 4006 directly repeals the 1931 abortion ban. HB 4032 removes a reference to the ban from the Code of Criminal Procedure.
“Today, we did what the voters sent us here to do — protect their rights to make the reproductive health decisions that are right for them, without government interference or threat of prosecution,” said Speaker Pro Tem Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia), chair of the Progressive Women’s Caucus and sponsor of HB 4006. “It is long overdue that we restore the liberties that Michiganders had for decades and restored in November.”