House Committee Considers Bill Decriminalizing Post-Birth Abortion

Salem, Ore.—On Monday, March 20, 2023, the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care held a public hearing on House Bill 2002. HB 2002 removes the previous limitation requiring parental consent for abortions performed on children younger than 15. The bill also eliminates the crime of “concealing the birth of an infant,” effectively shielding […]

FDA Expands Chemical Abortion Availability

Salem, Ore.—On Tuesday, January 3, the FDA finalized a rule expanding the availability of chemical abortion pills. The rule-change makes President Biden’s pandemic-related policy permanent, and expands it to allow virtually any pharmacy to dispense abortion pills without in-person screening. “One of the most fundamental roles of our government is to protect its citizens. The […]

2022 Legislative Wrapup: HB 4034

In the 2022 Oregon Legislative Session, we spent most of our time on three bills. One of those was HB 4034, an omnibus bill that included the expansion of abortion in Oregon. This bill was a buffet of barely linked provisions that cannot be shortly summarized. Maybe that’s why it’s just been called “A bill […]

Pro-Life Bills Die in Committee Without Hearing

Salem, OR—At the end of the day, February 7, SB 1553 and HB 4042 died in committee without receiving a hearing. Sponsored by Sen. Linthicum (R–Klamath Falls), Rep. Lewis (R–Silverton), Rep. Stark (R–Grants Pass) and other pro-life legislators, these bills would have established protection for mothers and infants. “I am disappointed in, but not surprised […]

Abortion is Not “Essential”

In Oregon, Governor Kate Brown made decisions about what businesses and industries were “essential” during the year-long shutdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care providers were deemed “non-essential” on March 19, 2020 when Gov. Brown signed an executive order calling for the temporary end of all elective procedures. Hospitals, clinics and dentist offices, […]