Gary Herbert on Abortion

Collect information on reason for abortion, race, ethnicity

Analysis by ACLU-Utah: Some of the information in question includes the reason for seeking an abortion, stage of pregnancy, and the race of the woman seeking an abortion. It seems clear that this bill is a thinly veiled effort to restrict women's reproductive choices down the road.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 56-17-2 on Mar/12/13; Passed Senate 23-4-2 on Mar/12/13; Signed by Governor Gary Herbert on Mar/22/13

Enacted new fees & inspections for abortion clinics

ACLU-Utah case to vote NO: H.B. 171 unfairly subjects Utah's three existing women's health clinics which offer abortions to twice a year inspections and higher government fees. Placing unnecessary regulations on physicians and the clinics in which they practice is bad public policy that stifles the doctor-patient relationship.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 47-25-3 on Mar/7/11; Passed Senate 22-6-1 on Mar/9/11; Signed by Governor Gary Herbert on Mar/22/11

Don't criminalize woman seeking illegal forms of abortion

Gov. Herbert has said he agrees generally with the bills goals but is still studying the particulars: Utah would still allow legal abortions performed by a doctor. But it would go further than any other state in mapping out when a woman is criminally liable for trying to end a pregnancy through other means or self-infliction.

Critics say legislation inspired by an unusual, perhaps even freakish criminal case, could open up a vast frontier around the question of intent and responsibility and give local prosecutors huge new powers to inquire about a woman's intentions toward her unborn child. [Gov. Herbert vetoed the bill on March 8, 2010].