The Senate Health and Welfare Committee this week advanced legislation that would cut off public funding for abortion providers and their affiliates. SB 1168, sponsored by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold), would prohibit any abortion facility or its affiliates from receiving public funds. Federal and state law currently prohibit public funds from being used for abortion. Coleman’s bill would expand that prohibition by denying an abortion provider Medicaid reimbursement for non-abortion health care services.
After receiving public testimony on SB 1168, the committee moved to combine it with a similar bill–SB 810, sponsored by Sen. Nick Schroer (R-Defiance)–and voted the bill Do Pass. SB 1168 will now go to the full Senate for debate. The MCC testified in favor of SB 1168.