North Dakota lawmakers are considering a controversial bill, HB 1373, which would allow women who obtain abortions to be charged with murder. The bill, referred to as a “personhood bill,” would define an unborn child as a human being from the moment of fertilization. Rep. Lori VanWinkle is the bill’s lead sponsor, emphasizing that it would close a loophole in current laws that allow the murder of innocent lives. Some critics, including abortion rights supporters and medical providers, argue that the bill is unconstitutional and could regulate necessary medical care. A separate proposal, HB 1488, would legalize abortions up to week 15 for any reason, with later-term abortions requiring approval from committees of doctors. Despite efforts to protect access to contraceptives and IVF, the fate of these bills remains uncertain. Both HB 1373 and HB 1488 faced opposition from various groups and individuals during a hearing in the House Human Services Committee. The committee has not taken action on either bill as of yet.
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