In a move that's sparked a wave of reactions across Oklahoma, Senator David Bullard has successfully pushed a bill through the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that targets the trafficking of abortion pills. As reported by the Oklahoma State Senate, House Bill 1168 is set to make it a felony to deliver or possess with intent to deliver abortion-inducing drugs, like mifepristone and misoprostol, under circumstances that suggest they'll be used for an illegal abortion.
Under Bullard's bill, delivery services and individuals alike could be prosecuted if found to be involved in the distribution of these medications for the purposes outlined. In a statement declaring his stance, Bullard did not mince words. "This legislation is crucial to protecting unborn lives and saving young women from the dangerous medical and mental health risks associated with abortion-inducing drugs," he explained. These penalties, which include up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000, are on par with those for performing an illegal abortion.
While critics argue that this strategy further limits access to reproductive healthcare, especially in a post-Roe v. Wade landscape, Bullard contends that the motive lies in safeguarding lives and health. The bill specifically excludes applications of the drugs that don't involve abortion, making clear it does not impinge on miscarriages or the sale of contraceptives. Regardless, the bill now moves towards the Senate floor, carrying with it the weight of Oklahoma's pivot to more stringent anti-abortion legislation.
House Bill 1168 does not stand in isolation. Its progress is congruent with broader movements at multiple state levels seeking to restrict access to abortion services following federal changes in abortion law. According to the Oklahoma State Senate's release, the bill's principal House author, Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, is one such figure in the drive to regulate abortion at this new, pharmaceutical frontier. As HB 1168 advances, it serves as another piece in a complex puzzle of reproductive rights and restrictions – one with implications rippling far beyond Oklahoma's borders.
