NC Democrats push status quo on access to abortion

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North Carolina Democratic lawmakers introduced bills last week that would codify Roe-era  abortion access rules as state law.

A pair of Charlotte lawmakers are among the sponsors of a bill that would make abortion access state law.

State Reps. Becky Carney and Carla Cunningham are co-sponsors of HB 19, titled “Codify Roe and Casey Protections.” House co-sponsors include Terence Everitt and Minority Leader Robert Reives. Sens. Rachel Hunt, Dan Blue and Sydney Batch are sponsors of the Senate companion bill, SB19A.

The bills would protect people’s freedom to access abortion care in North Carolina by enshrining the protections of the U.S. Supreme Court cases Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, into state law.

The bills, filed last week in both chambers of the General Assembly, would prevent the state from creating any barriers that could restrict a patient's ability to choose whether to get an abortion before fetal viability, which is often defined between 24 and 28 weeks. Current state law bans almost all abortions after 20 weeks. There are exceptions for urgent medical emergencies, but rape or incest are not included.

“North Carolinians believe in the right to health care for their families, including the right to decide if and when to have a child,” Hunt said. “As a woman, I know that every pregnancy is unique, which is why every woman needs to make the decision that is best for her, with the people she loves and trusts.”

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a public health crisis has unfolded across the South as conservative state legislatures pass extreme bans on abortion. Although North Carolina employs several restrictions, including a 72-hour mandatory delay and a ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy, people from across the South whose home state have total bans travel here for the procedure.

House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Phil Berger have indicated they intend to try and pass additional bans on abortion during the long legislative session. The Republican-majority General Assembly is within one vote in the House of a supermajority that can override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto.

At a press conference announcing the bills, Democrats declared their commitment to preserving access.

“Politicians shouldn’t be interfering in personal decisions just to score political points,” Reives said. “People, not politicians, should be making decisions about what's best for their lives. That’s why we are introducing legislation to ensure that state politicians cannot impose an undue burden on the ability of a person to decide whether or not to have an abortion.”

Said Blue: “Since June, bans have eliminated access to all or some abortions in 18 states. More states could implement abortion bans this year. The consequences of these bans have been devastating for both patients and healthcare providers.

“We must not allow such consequences to rain down on the people of this great state. When we put people’s health, freedom, and safety first, we all have an opportunity to thrive. That is the vision we are fighting for.”

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