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House passes 'Born‑Alive' measure after hours of emotional floor debate
Summary
The House approved the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (committee substitute for HB195 and HB1119) amid sharply divided debate over redundancy with existing law and the effect of Amendment 3.
Members of the Missouri House voted to pass the committee substitute for House Bills 195 and 1119, commonly described by supporters as the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
The gentleman from Taney County, sponsor, described the legislation as protecting infants who are born alive after an attempted abortion: "Should that infant be given all the care that another infant would receive of that gestational age." Supporters framed the bill as clarifying care obligations and criminal penalties for neglect.
Opponents argued the protections are already in law and that the bill could create problems with informed‑consent provisions and medical autonomy. A member said a "no" vote "is not a vote for infanticide" and that existing law already criminalizes such conduct. Others expressed that the bill duplicates statutory protections but said they supported it on principle.
Several members linked the debate to Amendment 3 (referred to by multiple speakers) and its effect on statutes regarding abortion. Speakers on both sides called for protecting children and cited personal and philosophical reasons for their votes.
After closing statements and a final vote, the clerk recorded the ayes as 109 and the nays as 32; the committee substitute for House Bills 195 and 1119 passed.
Votes at a glance: Committee substitute for House Bills 195 & 1119 — third reading and passed. Yea: 109. Nay: 32.
