Oklahoma Governor Signs Bill into Law Protecting Preborn Babies from the Moment of Conception
Pro-life legislation continues to make impressive progress across the nation. Oklahoma is one of the latest states to act to protect preborn human lives.
On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed a measure into law that protects the lives of preborn children from the moment of conception.
Pro-life lawmakers in the House voted in favor of the bill earlier this month 70-14, while the Senate approved the measure in March by a vote of 38-9.
The measure, Senate Bill 612, makes it a felony to perform an abortion. Abortionists who are convicted of violating the law could face a $100,000 fine, up to ten years in prison, or both.
The bill would apply to any abortionist in Oklahoma who provides abortion medication to women – which accounts for about 64% of all abortions in the state of Oklahoma.
The author of the legislation called the measure the “strongest pro-life legislation in the country right now, which effectively eliminates abortion in Oklahoma.”
Barring any legal challenges by the pro-abortion lobby, the law would go into effect this August.
The governor communicated at the signing ceremony for the bill that he’ll sign any anti-abortion bill that comes to his desk.
And he may just get another chance.
There are several other abortion bills under consideration.
Another measure still working its way through Oklahoma’s legislature is HB 4327.
This bill is similar to the Texas heartbeat bill, as previously reported by The Daily Citizen because it would permit private parties to sue abortionists. But it is also different because it would protect life from the moment of conception and would go into effect as soon as the governor signed it into law.
HB 4327 has already been voted out of the House and is expected to be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the governor.
Pro-life advocacy groups anticipate legal challenges to both measures but are hopeful that the upcoming Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization will be favorable and uphold their legitimacy.
Let’s celebrate the win today – and then get right back to work advancing the pro-life cause.
Pro-life friends, continue to stay engaged in the pro-life movement in your state. Ground zero for advancing this movement is in your state, in your community, in your church, in your neighborhood, and in your circles of influence.
We will win this country for life when we connect with others in a personal way and move hearts and minds. If we do our job well, we will do much more than make abortion illegal; we will make abortion unthinkable.
Photo from Shutterstock.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nicole Hunt, J.D., is an attorney and serves as a writer and spokesperson at Focus on the Family. She provides analysis and advocacy engagement for Christians to promote faith, family, and freedom. Some of the issues she writes and speaks on include life, religious freedom, parental rights, marriage, and gender. Prior to joining Focus on the Family, Nicole practiced employment law specifically advising businesses and ministries on employment policies and practices. Nicole worked in Washington, D.C. as a Legislative Assistant to two Members of Congress. During her time on Capitol Hill, Nicole provided policy analysis and voting recommendations to Members of Congress on a variety of public policy matters, wrote speeches, drafted committee statements and questions, wrote floor statements, produced legislation and amendments to legislation, met and developed networks with constituents and interest groups, and worked on regional projects. In addition, Nicole served as an intern to Former Attorney General Ed Meese in the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation, provided legal analysis to Americans United for Life, and interned in the Office of Strategic Initiatives at The White House during the George W. Bush Administration. Nicole earned her J.D. from George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School and her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science from Westmont College. Nicole enjoys riding horses and spending time camping and hiking with her family in the great outdoors. Nicole is married to her husband, Jeff, and they have four children. Follow Nicole on Twitter @nicolehunt



