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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Sadie Keaton, WVFL Legislative Director

The Women’s Right to Know Act (SB 352)

To get an accurate picture of the legislative landscape for pro-life issues in 2024, you have to start with the Unborn Child Protection Act. Our state has one of the strongest pro-life, protective laws in the country passed after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. After the law became effective, elective abortions in West Virginia were, essentially, a thing of the past.

Our law does contain certain exceptions to save the life of the mother, for babies that will not survive outside the womb, and in cases of rape and incest with certain guardrails. Knowing that, West Virginians for Life is working to build a culture that equips and encourages moms to choose life.

As part of that mission, this year’s first piece of priority legislation is focused on empowering moms with the information they need to choose life. The Women’s Right to Know Act was established in the 2000’s but was statutorily repealed when we passed the Unborn Child Protection Act. This Legislative Session, West Virginians for Life is pushing to revive the Women’s Right to Know Act in our current pro-life law. So – what does that mean and what does that look like? Our bill, SB 352, will provide comprehensive informed consent to mothers who meet the requirements to obtain an abortion in West Virginia. It will provide moms with information on the reality of surgical and chemical abortions, the alternatives to abortion, perinatal hospice, abortion pill reversal, and guarantee that mothers will have a right to see their baby’s ultrasound if they wish. This information is presented to her to review and process before she makes a decision.

The Women’s Right to Know Act addresses the needs of pregnant mothers carrying babies with disabilities, who may not know where to seek help. For these moms, information from the Women’s Right to Know website will be easily accessible. Numerous organizations that offer support through educational, physical, and financial resources will be listed.

The Support For Mothers and Babies Act (SB 620)

Last year, the Legislature with the leadership of Governor Jim Justice and support of West Virginians for Life, created the Support for Mothers and Babies Program to distribute $1 million dollars in funding for pro-life pregnancy help organizations. So far 45 pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, and family support networks have registered to receive funding to better serve their community. These are pro-life organizations committed to caring for women and their babies that do not refer for, commit, or in any way support the abortion industry.

Currently, those funds are distributed on a fee for service basis, meaning that the pregnancy help organization must provide the service in order to seek reimbursement for it. That works well for up-and-running pregnancy help organizations – like Crossroads Pregnancy Center here in Charleston where Governor Justice signed the program into law. However, if you’re a center that’s just starting or an organization wanting to expand services with an ultrasound machine, for instance, the fee for service model doesn’t really do much to help. 

West Virginians for Life, in consultation with the West Virginia Pregnancy Center Coalition, has taken steps to fix this problem. This year, Senator Patricia Rucker introduced SB 620 which will broaden the expenses eligible for state dollars to include expenses like roofs, ultrasound machines, and training for staff and volunteers. 

For example, a pregnancy center that currently does a great job of providing strollers, diapers, prenatal vitamins, counseling, support groups, and parenting classes decides that they’re ready to offer ultrasound services to moms. The center will be able to seek grant funding under the Support for Mothers and Babies Programs to purchase an ultrasound machine and put a staff member or volunteer through the education required to be a limited ultrasound technician.

2024 West Virginia State Legislators

Senators Contact List

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House of Delegates Contact List

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House of Delegates Voting Records

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AMENDMENT ONE PASSES IN WEST VIRGINIA IN HISTORIC ELECTION

Click below for press release

To register to vote:

1. ONLINE click HERE to register to vote in West Virginia and to register in another state click HERE.

2. IN PERSON – visit the County Clerk’s Office in your local courthouse. For County Clerk office information, click HERE.