HLS 24RS-386 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 245
BY REPRESENTATIVE FREEMAN
ABORTION: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides relative to decisionmaking in
reproductive healthcare
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2Proposing to amend and reenact Article I, Section 20.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to
3 provide rights and protections for an individual's pregnancy-related decisions; to
4 prohibit government interference in an individual's pregnancy; to provide for
5 submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
8elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
9Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to
10amend Article I, Section 20.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
11 §20.1. Abortion
12 Section 20.1. To protect human life, nothing in this constitution shall be
13 construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.
14 (A) All persons have the right to decide and implement their decisions
15 regarding reproductive healthcare including but not limited to contraception, fertility
16 treatment, pregnancy continuation, miscarriage care, abortion care, and birthing
17 options.
18 (B) All persons have the right to be treated with dignity and respect
19 regarding their reproductive healthcare decisions and the conditions in which they
20 exercise those rights.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-386 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 245
1 (C) The state shall not penalize or discriminate against an individual
2 voluntarily exercising rights provided in this Section or an individual or entity
3 assisting another in exercising these rights unless the state demonstrates it is properly
4 and effectively using the least restrictive means to advance an individual's health in
5 accordance with widely accepted and evidence based standards of care.
6 (D) No person shall be subject to actions, prosecution, or punishment for an
7 actual, potential, perceived, or alleged pregnancy resulting in a miscarriage, stillbirth,
8 abortion, or other pregnancy-related outcomes.
9 (E) For the purposes of this Section, "state" means any governmental entity
10 or political subdivision.
11 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
12to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 5,
132024.
14 Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
15there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
16to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
17follows:
18 Do you support an amendment to protect individual rights regarding
19 reproductive healthcare decisions and to prohibit prosecution or punishment
20 against individuals who exercise that right? (Amends Article I, Section 20.1)
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 245 Original 2024 Regular Session Freeman
Abstract: Provides rights and protections from the state for an individual and those who
assist in an individual's pregnancy-related decisions or outcomes.
Present constitution provides that a right to abortions or funding of abortions shall not be
construed or secured by present constitution.
Proposed constitutional amendment provides rights to individuals regarding their pregnancy-
related decisions.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-386 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 245
Proposed constitutional amendment prohibits government interference and punishment of
an individual and others who assist in an individual's pregnancy-related decisions or
outcomes.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held Nov. 5, 2024.
(Amends Const. Art. I, §20.1)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.