Update on Abortion Bans in Michigan

Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and trips to Lansing during the Michigan House and Senate hearings, and ultimate votes, on the passage of the abortion method ban.

Here is a quick update on what’s happened since those votes.

1. The bills (HB 4320, HB 4321, SB 229 and SB 230) have not yet been sent to the Governor. With her steadfast pledge to veto the bills, Right to Life of Michigan was quick to promise a statewide initiative petition process to go around her veto.

2. That process has begun, and we are monitoring it closely. With a change in the laws during the contentious lame duck session in December, there are a few added opportunities to ensure that the ballot initiative process is fair and just.

3. First, PPAM, along with others, submitted comments on the proposed 100-word summaries for both the “MI Values Life” and “MI Heartbeat Coalition” petition proposals.

4. Next, the Board of State Canvassers will hold a hearing on those summaries this Wednesday, June 19 at 10 a.m. in Lansing. We will be there to testify to highlight the political and prejudiced wording in the summaries.

5. Finally, the proposals will be approved by early July and the groups can begin gathering signatures.

In addition to all of that, we have been consulting with legal advisers, working with progressive partners and investing in research to determine the best way forward to stop these bans. We are not yet calling for or promoting any specific action until we’ve had the opportunity to review the research.

We can’t thank you enough for all your calls and messages of support, and you’ve send so many great ideas on how we can all work together to stop the bans and protect access to abortion for the future.

Stay tuned for more updates! In the meantime, make sure your membership is up to date by renewing today!