Members of the Georgia House and Senate introduced the Georgia Reproductive Freedom Act during a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Identical bills, Senate Bill 15 and House Bill 75, were filed to repeal the 2019 six-week abortion ban, as well as add the right to the procedure to the state code. Georgia previously allowed abortions up until roughly 20 weeks of pregnancy. This act would remove restrictions on access to abortion, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The effort is being led by reproductive health, civil rights, and justice advocates, as well as allies such as Amplify Georgia and Access Reproductive Care – Southeast, among many other supporters.
Sen. Nabilah Islam, who represents Georgia’s 7th Senate District, told the crowd that the group of allies and abortion supporters surrounding her should have been gathering to celebrate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case granting the right to an abortion “without excessive government restriction.” Instead, they’ve been forced to fight the same fight as her grandparents.
“We should be moving forward,” said Sen. Islam, expressing her full support of the act’s passage.
Rep. Kim Schofield, who has served Georgia’s 60th district since 2017, said she stood firm in her support of the act and shared that she had an abortion years ago. She said her decision was based on her life at that point and not influenced by a medical emergency.
“Whatever decision you choose to make, you should have that access … As we move forward, I want all women to have [the ability to access] a safe, effective abortion, with dignity,” said Rep. Schofield.
Amplify Georgia and its partners are asking Georgians to sign a statement of support. Find it here.
Media coverage:
Georgia Democrats push measures to allow abortions in any instance
Reproductive Freedom Act seeks to repeal Georgia’s H.B. 481 abortion ban
Reproductive Freedom Act introduced in Georgia legislature
Georgia senators push for women’s healthcare rights in Atlanta
Jerzy Shedlock (he/him) is a communications specialist at the ACLU of Georgia.
