#roe v wade

Senate Bill 36, resolutely codifies conditions under which felony prosecutions can be initiated within the State of Hawai‘i. Another measure, Senate Bill 1 seeks to provide stronger, clearer protections for reproductive health care services, and increases access to those services.

Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran of Maui authored the bill. It allows for licensed physician assistants to perform certain abortions, repealing the requirement that abortions be performed at certain locations, and clarifying that the state shall not deny or interfere with a pregnant person’s right to choose to (1) obtain an abortion or (2) if necessary to protect the life or health of the patient, terminate the pregnancy.

US Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) today joined 11 of her Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging the Biden administration to take new steps to protect reproductive freedom. She said the request is being made amidst divided control of Congress and increasing efforts to restrict access to abortion.

The bill clarifies that it is illegal for anti-choice states to limit travel for abortion services, and would empower the Attorney General and impacted individuals to bring civil action against those who restrict a woman’s right to cross state lines to receive legal reproductive care.

The Maui event was one of at least four held across the state today as allied groups joined in a day of action to support abortion access and reproductive freedom for women.

As the 2022 Hawaiʻi State Legislative Session came to a close, Governor David Ige reflected upon the shift from deficits during the first two years of the pandemic, to financial recovery and restoration of funding for various initiatives this year.

The Senate Women’s Legislative Caucus, co-chaired by Senate Vice President Michelle Kidani and Senator Rosalyn H. Baker of Maui, issued a statement, speaking out against the US Supreme Court’s draft opinion, saying that they are “appalled and deeply angered,” by it.