House Bill 1257

Background: House Bill 1257 would regulate the performance and reporting of abortions necessary to preserve the life of a pregnant female and to provide a penalty therefor.

Our Stance: The ACLU of South Dakota opposes House Bill 1257.

By using specific language to define an “unborn child” as an individual organism from fertilization until live birth, House Bill 1257 could create a legal domino effect that triggers broader restrictions on hormonal contraception, emergency contraception and in vitro fertilization. Additionally, legislative policy must remain neutral toward competing religious perspectives on life’s origin to ensure that pregnancy does not result in the forfeiture of equal protection under the law.