Fighting for Life in Ohio Has Not Slowed Down

Shared by Laura Strietmann, Executive Director of Cincinnati Right to Life

While the abortion lobby continues to claim that abortion is a “settled issue” in Ohio,  we are here with proof that it is not .  Pro-life lawmakers across the state remain steadfast in their commitment to defending life, strengthening families, and protecting women and children.

Our state’s  Pro-Life Caucus  also shows that abortion is far from a settled issue. In July, thirty-one   members of the Ohio House gathered to reaffirm their dedication to advancing a culture of life. Led by  State Representative Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) ,  the caucus is committed to creating policies that protect life, empower women, and strengthen families across the state—further proof that Ohio’s pro-life movement is active, united, and determined.

The following pro-life legislative measures now before the Ohio House demonstrate that the fight for life is very much alive and growing stronger.

HB 262 – Designate Natural Family Month
Sponsored by State Representatives  Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) ,  this bill would recognize the weeks between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as  “Natural Family Month.”
“Amid declining marriage rates and a growing number of young adults opting not to have children, it’s vital for the State of Ohio to affirm that marriage and the family unit form the bedrock of a thriving society,” Representative Lear stated. “Strong families are essential to preserving a healthy and stable Republic.”

HB 324 – The Patient Protection Act
Sponsored by Representatives Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Meredith Craig (R-Smithville), this bill regulates the sale and prescription of abortion-inducing drugs with severe adverse effects—such as death, hemorrhage requiring hospitalization, infection, organ failure, or sepsis.

The legislation requires in-person medical examinations, clear disclosure of risks, and mandated follow-up care when the risk of serious complications exceeds 5%. A recent study found that mifepristone causes severe complications in nearly one in nine women—a rate 22 times higher than the FDA’s label suggests—underscoring the need for these commonsense safeguards.

HB 347 – SHE WINS Act (Share the Health and Empower With Informed Notices)
Sponsored by Representatives  Mike Odioso (R-Green Twp.) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) , the  “She Wins”  Act affirms that abortion, as a medical procedure, must meet the same informed consent standards applied to all healthcare.

The bill ensures pregnant women receive all necessary information before making a final decision, requiring that informed consent be secured at least 24 hours before an abortion is performed or induced. This aligns abortion procedures with the medical profession’s standard of care and ensures that women are fully informed of the physical and psychological risks associated with abortion.

HB 370 – Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act
Sponsored by Representatives Levi Dean (R-Xenia) and Johnathan Newman (R-Troy), this bill seeks to redefine personhood as beginning at fertilization.

The legislation would extend civil and criminal protections to preborn children, classify abortion as an act of homicide, and entirely abolish abortion in Ohio. The measure relies on the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, which bars any state from denying equal protection of the laws to persons within its jurisdiction.

HB 410 – Prohibit Medicaid Funds for Certain Abortion Providers
Sponsored by State Representatives Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) and Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon), this bill prohibits Ohio Medicaid reimbursements to entities that perform or refer for abortions.

It seeks to end taxpayer funding for abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood, which have long received public funds despite offering services that conflict with the values of many Ohioans.

“There is consistent jurisprudence that says just because something is legal does not mean the state has to pay for it,” said Rep. Adam Mathews.

  HB 485 – The Baby Olivia Act
Sponsored by Representative Melanie Miller (R-Ashland), this bill requires age-appropriate education on fetal development to be included in Ohio school curricula.

It ensures students learn scientifically accurate information about human development before birth and aims to rebuild a culture that honors and values life from its earliest stages. Similar legislation has been introduced in more than 20 other states, and several—including Idaho, Kansas, North Dakota, Tennessee, Iowa, and Indiana—have already enacted comparable laws.

The Fight Continues

While the 2024 abortion  statistics for Ohio are devastating ,  the numbers for Cincinnati are especially telling—with a dramatic increase in both surgical and out-of-state abortions. Lord have mercy.

Each piece of legislation introduced in the Ohio House is critical to protecting life while we continue the vital work of changing hearts and minds toward a culture that values every human being.

Cincinnati Right to Life will continue to be a steadfast voice for babies in the womb, from the sidewalk, in the Statehouse, at the Supreme Court, and in the Senate.

For us here in Cincinnati, this is not only a local battle but also a fight that must be waged on the federal level to protect life at every stage and in every place.

DON’T FORGET TO SIGN THE PETITION FOR GOVERNOR DEWINE TO DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN OHIO

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