The Nevada Legislature has now officially passed the Senate Bill 179.
Democrats are sponsoring the "Trust Nevada Women Act". It updates Nevada's informed consent laws and gets rid of criminal penalties that have been in place for more than 100 years. The Senate already passed the bill 12-9, and the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services approved the measure by a 7-2 vote. Then on Tuesday, it passed the Assembly with 27-13 vote.
If it becomes law, it would remove a law that requires written consent form the woman to get an abortion, and it would not require women to certify their age or marital status.
"It updates some antiquated laws that are on the books in Nevada," Caroline Mello Roberson, State Director for NARAL Pro-Choice Nevada said. "We know that women involve different people in their lives when they make these decisions whether it's a clergy member, a doctor, a parent, a spouse, but that women should be the ones making those choices, not the state or any politicians."
Some lawmakers say there should be considerations for the ways abortions can affect the mental health of women who terminate a pregnancy, and that some of the state's criminal laws should stay in place for certain abortions.
Senator Ira Hansen says he offered an amendment to the bill that would require women to have an ultrasound before getting an abortion, which was not added.
"The time that they are actually viable is getting earlier and earlier," Hansen, R-Sparks said. "It's just something we've got to look at more scientifically because the truth is that we are killing living human beings."
The bill moves forward as other states like Alabama, Georgia and Missouri are adding restrictions. Some of them will not allow abortions once the heartbeat is detected in the fetus.
"I agree with that. I think that once we have a heartbeat, once we have brain activity, we have new science and we now know that and I think that's the right thing to do," Assem. Gregory Hafen II, R-Pahrump said.
"You see some of these states that appear to be going backwards and I like knowing we're in a state that's moving forward," Assem. Rochelle Nguyen, D-Las Vegas said.
Tuesday is "Stop the Bans Day of Action", when the bill is expected to pass. If it does, it will head to Governor Sisolak's office for his signature.
