A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is expected by June 2022 in the Mississippi case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization addressing whether banning abortions after 15 weeks gestation is constitutional. There is the potential that states will no longer be prevented by federal case law from prohibiting pre-viability abortions if Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey is overturned or greatly diminished by the ruling. Exceptions in the bill to the 15-week abortion ban align with the Mississippi law and are allowed for saving the life of the mother, avoiding an irreversible and substantial impairment of a major bodily function of the mother, and fatal fetal abnormality.
HB 5 and its Senate companion, SB 146 (Stargel), also include provisions to analyze and reduce fetal and infant mortality, and require monthly mandatory reporting of the number of medication abortions.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is set to hear HB 5 on February 21, and the bill may be heard on the Senate floor as early as next week.