JEFFERSON CITY – On Thursday, April 17th, the Missouri House of Representatives approved House Committee Substitute to House Joint Resolution 73 (HCS HJR 73) which will place the issue on the ballot to restore respect for women and babies in our Missouri Constitution.
Republicans have been under attack by pro-abortion zealots that want to keep the killing of babies all 9 months of pregnancy in our State Constitution at the expense of Missouri women’s safety.
After Judge Zhang ruled on February 14, 2025 to strip critical protections from Missouri women, it is clear that the state has a compelling interest to put this issue back to a vote of the people of Missouri.
Here are a just a few of the protections Judge Zhang ruled to be stripped out of law: that only doctors can perform abortions (GONE), that facilities doing abortions have sterilization standards for surgical instruments and equipment (GONE), have emergency equipment on sight (GONE), have emergency drugs, oxygen and fluids in a surgical room (GONE), that ultrasounds be performed by a doctor or a medical technician (GONE), that an abortion provider perform an exam to identify possible complications that could occur based on a woman’s medical conditions (GONE).
Why are these necessary medical precautions needed in law? Because abortion clinics in Missouri have a recorded history of inspections that showed rusty equipment, dried blood on equipment, expired drugs and unqualified personnel. Abortion clinics in Missouri have also made the statement that they will take minors across state lines to do abortions on them without parental consent.
Missouri Right to Life supports HCS HJR 73. It truly will:
* Restore health and safety regulations to protect women, regulations that Amendment 3 removed from law;
* Guarantee treatment for miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies;
* Ensure that women receive medically accurate information;
* Allow abortions in cases of medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, and rape and incest.
In cases of rape and incest an abortion may be performed up to 12 weeks gestational age of the unborn child;
* Ensure parental consent for minors’ abortions;
* Ensure taxpayers don’t have to fund abortions;
* Ensure no fetal organ harvesting; and,
* Protect minors from gender transitions.
The majority of Missourians did not vote for abortion all 9 months of pregnancy. They believe and support these issues and this new amendment will give the people of Missouri another opportunity to speak.
The resolution will now be sent to the Missouri Senate. If the Senate approves the resolution the issue will then be placed on the November 2026 ballot or at a special election designated by the governor.
Missouri Right to Life thanks all Missouri State Representatives that voted in support of HCS HJR 73 and we look forward to working with Missouri State Senators to get this life-saving and life-affirming resolution to the Missouri Secretary of State!