Wyoming committee advances bill to protect pregnancy centers from government requirements

Summary

The Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 273, the "Wyoming Pregnancy Center Autonomy and Rights of Expression Act," to prohibit state and local officials from forcing pregnancy centers to perform, refer, or counsel in favor of abortion or certain other services; the panel carried several technical amendments and approved the bill as amended.

Representative Rodriguez Williams, sponsor of House Bill 273, told the Judiciary Committee that the measure protects pregnancy centers from being singled out by state or local governments for refusing to provide or refer for abortion, abortion-inducing drugs or contraception.

"The Wyoming Pregnancy Center Autonomy and Rights of Expression Act protects Wyoming pregnancy centers from discrimination simply because they do not offer, refer for, or counsel in favor of abortion, abortion inducing drugs, or contraception," Representative Rodriguez Williams said in opening remarks. She said the bill provides a legal remedy when a center's speech or associational rights are violated and that the effective date is July 1, 2025.

The measure would bar state and local officials from, among other things, requiring a pregnancy center to perform or refer for abortion, or to prohibit a center from providing pregnancy, perinatal or postpartum care because it does not counsel in favor of…

Wyoming committee advances bill to protect pregnancy centers from government requirements

Summary

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