North Dakota bill aims to make performing an abortion a felony
Under House Bill 1313, someone found to have performed an abortion, unless the procedure is done to save the life of the mother, would be guilty of a Class AA felony, punishable by up to life in prison without parole. Written By: Jeremy Turley | ×
Anti-abortion protesters hold signs July 11, 2018, outside the Red River Women s Clinic in Fargo, North Dakota s only abortion clinic. Erin Bormett / The Forum
BISMARCK A team of ultra-conservative North Dakota lawmakers has thrown its weight behind a bill that would make performing an abortion in the state legally akin to murdering an unborn child. Anti-abortion advocates are withholding judgment on the new proposal, but Democratic lawmakers reject it, saying the state would end up spending hundreds of thousands of dollars defending an unconstitutional abortion bill.
North Dakota s legislative session starts this week. Here s a rundown of what lawmakers aim to tackle
Leaders from both parties agree that the state budget and a bonding bill will be the session s headliners, but Legislative Council Director John Bjornson said there will be plenty of other issues before lawmakers. He expects that more than 800 bills and resolutions will be introduced during the roughly four-month session. Written By: Jeremy Turley | ×
Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, speaks at a news conference on Dec. 1, 2020, in the North Dakota Capitol. Jeremy Turley / Forum News Service
BISMARCK The North Dakota Legislature will convene Tuesday, Jan. 5, in Bismarck amid a global health crisis and an economic slump that have put the state on uneasy footing.