Michigan Senate Bill SB0112

Michigan 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/1/23
• Refer: 3/1/23

Caption

Health facilities: other; pregnancy resource centers; prohibit certain regulations related to abortions. Creates new act.

Impact

The implications of SB 112 extend to both state laws and local governance, as it explicitly restricts how local governments can regulate pregnancy resource centers. By establishing that the state shall not require these centers to perform or refer for abortion services, it aims to ensure that the operations of such centers remain intact without interference from governmental mandates. As a result, the bill may reinforce the operational autonomy of these centers and promote their proliferation across Michigan, while potentially limiting the state's ability to implement broader reproductive health policies.

Summary

Senate Bill 112 aims to prohibit both state and local governmental entities from mandating that pregnancy resource centers offer abortion services or provide referrals for such services. The bill defines a pregnancy resource center as a nonprofit organization that promotes childbirth and alternatives to abortion, providing information related to pregnancy. Under this legislation, these centers would retain the ability to offer pregnancy care and counseling without being penalized for not providing abortion services or referrals.

Contention

Notable points of contention surround the bill's directly articulated constraints on local government powers, specifically regarding reproductive health services. Critics may argue that by exempting pregnancy resource centers from the requirement to provide comprehensive reproductive health information, the bill could lead to misinformation or limited access to important health services. Proponents, on the other hand, likely advocate for the preservation of these centers' missions, asserting that mandating abortion-related services undermines their purpose and poses ethical dilemmas for their operations.