Jan 18, 2021

Kan. legislators study proposed anti-abortion amendment

Posted Jan 18, 2021 2:00 PM

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas abortion opponents are moving with unusual speed to put an anti-abortion amendment to the state constitution on a ballot. Backers of the measure fear a COVID-19 outbreak could thwart them if they delay.

The proposed amendment would overturn a state Supreme Court decision in 2019 that declared access to abortion a “fundamental” right under the state constitution. It would declare that there is no Kansas constitutional right to abortion and preserve the Legislature’s power to regulate abortion.

One or both chambers could debate the measure later this week. Efforts to pass the measure last year ended when the Legislature shortened its session because of the pandemic.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Abortion opponents and abortion rights supporters previewed arguments they’ll make to voters if lawmakers put a proposed anti-abortion amendment to the state constitution on the ballot.

House and Senate committees heard testimony Friday on a proposal to overturn a Kansas Supreme Court decision in 2019 declaring access to abortion a “fundamental” right under the state constitution. The measure would declare there is no state right to abortion and the Legislature has broad authority to regulate it.

Both Republican-controlled committees are expected to approve the measure, possibly this week. But abortion opponents need two-thirds majorities in both chambers to get the measure on the ballot as planned in the August 2022 primary, when a simple of majority of voters could add it to the constitution.

Testimony often moved from the text of the proposal to larger arguments about regulating abortion.

Abortion opponents argue that they are trying only to preserve restrictions enacted previously with bipartisan support. They spent much of their time talking about why they believe restrictions are necessary.

Abortion rights supporters argued that the proposed amendment is a step toward a state abortion ban, and much of their testimony focused on why they believe preserving access to abortion benefits women’s health.