Regardless of immigration status, everyone has basic rights that are protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Know your rights: www.aclu.org/know-your-ri...
05.03.2026 13:41
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Regardless of immigration status, everyone has basic rights that are protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Know your rights: www.aclu.org/know-your-ri...
The committee ends. Contact your legislators at abortionforward.org/waiting
Gaveled back into order, the last in-person witness of the hearing is Dr. Alison Norris, from the Ohio Policy Evaluation Network, testifying as an interested party. Find them at open.osu.edu.
Rep. Schmidt loses control of the committee after Rep. Gross asks offensive questions about abortion and Schmidt refuses to allow the witness to offer correct information. She's really bad at her job.
Anti-abortion Rep. Jennifer Gross refers to this state-mandated waiting period as an opportunity. Witness Miracle responds that these policies are not opportunities but are in fact paternalistic.
Answering a question about impact on taxpayers to fund court battles on abortion restrictions. Jaime cites the document that Ohio AG Dave Yost published during the 2023 ballot initiative that explained in no uncertain terms how all of these restrictions would be unconstitutional. (and now they are!)
Next witness is our own @jmiracleoh.bsky.social: As the First District Court of Appeals said in ruling in yet another one of the now unconstitutional restrictions on abortion in Ohio, “Ohio voters said what they meant.”
Rep. King asks if the witness is offended by abortion rates for Black women, but Myia responds that what is truly offensive is the infant and maternal mortality rate for Black women in Ohio. This bill addresses none of that.
Rep. Brownlee asks about disproportional impact of waiting period restrictions in communities of color. She also asks how these restrictions land on survivors of sexual assault.
Witness Myia Rucker from Ohio Women's Alliance testifies on the practical support services that their organization provides to people needing assistance accessing abortion. She knows first hand how harmful waiting periods are for patients.
Rep. Grim asks what services JustChoice provides. The agency actually started as a pro-choice adoption consultation service that has expanded to provide pre-natal services and medication adoption. Find them at justchoice.org
Rep. Baker asks what the typical experience is for a patient, from learning they're pregnant through obtaining an abortion. Witness notes that patients have PLENTY of time on their own to make up their own minds. At best, this bill is simply unnecessary.
Rep. Miller asks a stupid question citing a bogus study about regret. Witness Sullivan explains that as a social worker, she helps clients determine what's best for themselves. In the end, it's the patient's decision.
Next witness is Laura Sullivan from JustChoice, a provider of medication abortion in Columbus and Cincinnati. She's explaining the harms caused by waiting periods.
Witness Martinez explains that the list of complications that were listed off are totally different from her experience. She said "I felt like I was getting an additional period and that was it."
Rep. King asks about potential complications for abortion patients that are listed in the bill... which was written by opponents of abortion and is completely separate from reality about abortion.
Rep. Brownlee asks about the impact on patients when they're being told what to do by people who aren't their medical provider.
Witness Martinez explains that for patients like her, the "24-hour" waiting period was actually weeks. That delay changes the nature of medical options and expense available for patients.
Next witness, Ana Martinez from Ohio Women's Alliance shares her personal abortion story and explains how the 24-hour waiting period that was in effect at the time only had negative implications for her.
Anti-abortion politicians Angie King asks if there are other significant medical procedures that are offered same-day. Witness questions her motives by labeling abortion as significant and also there are many forms of healthcare that doctors offer same day based on need.
Rep. Brownlee asks the witness to expand on how harmful policies like this are for people seeking abortion care.
Anti-abortion politician Miller asks for evidence to the harm that are caused by waiting periods. Witness @daniellefirsich.bsky.social educates Rep. Miller on how 24-hour waiting periods are often more than 24-hours because of the incredibly unsurmountable barriers for low-income patients.
Rep. @anitamd.bsky.social asks about legal challenges to abortion restrictions since the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment was passed. The witness notes that THIS EXACT RESTRICTION was blocked by the court just last year.
Witness from @ppaohio.bsky.social: "It is inappropriate for the State to second guess the will of the voters."
First witness against House Bill 347 is @daniellefirsich.bsky.social, quoting the First Court of Appeals that recently smacked down an abortion restriction: “The people of Ohio voted to enshrine their reproductive freedom in the Constitution through the clear language of the Amendment."
All of the witnesses today are speaking about the harm that is caused by waiting periods on abortion care. Simply put, forcing low-income patients to make a second trip to a clinic requires time off work, child care, and transportation $$$ that puts abortion out of reach for many who need it.
Read testimony on the committee website: ohiohouse.gov/committees/h...
Happening now: The Ohio House Committee on Health is hearing opponent testimony on House Bill 347, which would attempt to restore a ALREADY STRUCK DOWN AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL 24-hour waiting period on abortion in Ohio.
👏This moment has been years in the making, and we are so proud of the grassroots @cbussafety.bsky.social campaign for putting up this proposal that will reduce violence, restore community trust, save lives, and transform Columbus for the better.
Next step: #GetOutTheVote 🗳️✅