Salem, OR—At the end of the day, February 7, SB 1553 and HB 4042 died in committee without receiving a hearing. Sponsored by Sen. Linthicum (R–Klamath Falls), Rep. Lewis (R–Silverton), Rep. Stark (R–Grants Pass) and other pro-life legislators, these bills would have established protection for mothers and infants.
“I am disappointed in, but not surprised by, the leadership of the House and Senate,” said ORTL Executive Director Lois Anderson. “Their allegiance to the abortion industry doesn’t allow them even to consider the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which has broad support among Oregonians.”
In the Senate, SB 1553—the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act—would have established a legal requirement to provide life-saving care for infants that survived an attempted abortion. In the House, HB 4042 would have required abortion practitioners to inform women about abortion pill reversal treatment at least 24 hours before dispensing mifepristone, a drug commonly used in chemical abortions.
A 2021 poll showed that 78% of Oregonians support legal requirements to provide life-saving medical care to infants born alive after an attempted abortion. Anderson continued, “Unfortunately, it seems their pro-abortion allegiance comes before the beliefs of the vast majority of Oregonians.”
