Newly introduced Ohio bill mirrors Texas' abortion ban

<h2><strong>Mary Schuermann Kuhlman</strong></h2> <p><strong>Ohio News Connection</strong></p> <p>Ohio again is jumping into the national debate over abortion access, with a new bill introduced that mirrors Texas' strict abortion ban.<br> <br> <a href="https://ohiohouse.gov/legislation/134/hb480" target="_blank">House Bill 480</a> would ban all abortions in Ohio and allow any person to file a lawsuit against a medical provider who performs the procedure, or who "aids or abets" an abortion. Its backers are calling it the "2363 Act," claiming the number represents the number of abortions performed each day in the United States.<br> <br> Kellie Copeland, executive director of <a href="https://prochoiceohio.org/" target="_blank">NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio</a>, said the so-called vigilante provision is copied directly from the Texas bill.<br> <br> "This is such a sick game of ping-pong that Ohio and Texas are playing right now," she said. "The first six-week ban was introduced here, and Texas took it and added the vigilante piece. Now, Ohio is picking it back up and adding a total ban to it. It's incredibly dangerous."<br> <br> Under HB 480, anyone who performs an abortion could face a fine of up to $10,000. Supporters argue that human life starts at the moment of fertilization and deserves protection. Opponents counter that it's an attack on women's rights and reproductive health.<br> <br> Last week, a second hearing was heard in the Ohio Senate on <a href="https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA134-SB-123" target="_blank">an abortion trigger bill, Senate Bill 123</a>, which would ban abortions if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Also, Mason became the second Ohio city to prohibit abortion within city limits.<br> <br> Mason resident Nikki Foster said she believes it puts politics before a person's medical well-being and suspects it's also based on the Texas ban.<br> <br> "We just don't believe, and we know, that this doesn't reflect our values," she said. "If the Texans can come