A bill that would ban abortions in Wyoming should the U.S. Supreme Court decide to overturn its decision in the landmark abortion case of Roe vs. Wade won initial approval from the Senate on Tuesday.
House Bill 92, introduced by Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R–Cody, would ban abortions in the state if Roe vs. Wade is reversed unless the mother faces serious risks of death or irreversible physical impairments.
Speaking during the bill’s review in the Senate’s “committee of the whole” — the first review of bills returned by committees — Sen. Lynn Hutchings, R-Cheyenne, explained that the bill is a “trigger bill” that would not take effect until Roe vs. Wade is overturned.
The bill was proposed because the Supreme Court last year indicated it might be willing to overturn its previous ruling, she said.
“It is actually an abortion ban-in-waiting bill and act relating to abortion,” she said. “One limiting the circumstances under which an abortion may be performed, limiting the use of appropriated funds from the state and providing a delayed effective date pending the or highest court’s decision.”
The bill cleared its first full Senate review with no debate and will be reviewed a second time on Wednesday.
