Missouri’s Republican Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, has pledged to continue enforcing some laws restricting abortion despite a new constitutional amendment that is expected to overturn the state’s near-total ban on the procedure. The amendment, which was approved by voters, enshrines abortion rights in the state constitution while allowing restrictions after fetal viability.
Bailey’s office will enforce a ban on abortion after fetal viability, with exceptions for cases where a healthcare provider deems it necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person. The Attorney General also stated that Missouri’s law requiring parental permission for minors to receive abortions will continue to be honored.
The term “viability” refers to whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or if a fetus could survive outside the uterus, usually after the 21st week of pregnancy. The Missouri amendment is set to take effect on December 5 and does not explicitly override any existing state laws, leaving it up to advocates to challenge unconstitutional bans.
Abortion rights advocates had mixed reactions to the inclusion of restrictions after viability in the amendment, with some concerned about the potential for regulations that could limit access to abortion. Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri have filed a lawsuit to invalidate the state’s abortion ban and related laws, with the case still pending. Missouri’s stance reflects wider debates on abortion rights seen in the recent elections in various states.
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