The recently-filed Senate Bill 99 would introduce narrowly-tailored exceptions for rape and incest, or when there is a lethal fetal anomaly or the fetus is incompatible with sustained life outside the womb.
Tamarra Wieder with Planned Parenthood favors the change, but says she's skeptical the bill will make it to the governor's desk. She also says bills adding exceptions to already strict abortion laws often don't work as intended — especially if providers remain concerned about stepping over lines drawn in the law.
"There is a chilling precedent across the state that hospital systems and lawyers are afraid to put their providers at risk," she says. "Providers are afraid. There are felonies that are in place, the loss of licensure, and unfortunately my fear is that even with the passage of SB 99 we won't see exceptions come into play."
Gov. Andy Beshear, who has regularly described the state's abortion laws as "extreme," says he would sign SB 99 immediately if it clears the GOP-led General Assembly.
Republican leaders have said discussions about adding exceptions are underway, but they aren't yet providing any specifics.
