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Committee advances HB 273 (CARE Act) protecting pregnancy resource centers; opponents argue bill is unnecessary and unconstitutional
Summary
House Bill 273, the "Pregnancy Care Center Autonomy and Rights" (CARE) Act, was presented and advanced by the committee after debate. Sponsors said the bill prevents state or local officials from coercing pregnancy centers to refer for abortion or limiting their speech; opponents questioned necessity, cited First Amendment protections and raised
The House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee heard testimony on House Bill 273, the Pregnancy Care Center Autonomy and Rights Act (the CARE Act), and advanced the bill after debate and an unsuccessful amendment to remove a provision about legislative intervention in litigation.
Representative Rachel Rodriguez Williams, sponsor of HB 273, and Denise Burke of Alliance Defending Freedom presented the bill. Rodriguez Williams described the measure as a preventive protection for pregnancy resource centers. “The CARE Act protects pregnancy centers by prohibiting state and local officials from forcing a pregnancy center to perform or refer a woman for abortion,” she told the committee. Burke added that the bill “prevents them from being discriminated against because of their pro…
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