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House Medicaid Committee hears proponent testimony for HB 410 to bar state funds from abortion-related providers
Summary
Proponents told the House Medicaid Committee that House Bill 410 would block state funds from flowing to facilities that provide or facilitate abortions and would build on a $20 million appropriation to pregnancy resource centers. Committee members did not take action during the hearing.
At a House Medicaid Committee hearing, proponents urged lawmakers to pass House Bill 410, which they described as a measure to prevent state funds from supporting abortion-related providers.
Marsha Forslund, representing the Catholic Conference of Ohio, told the committee that the conference supports policies she framed around human dignity. "The intrinsic dignity, value, and worth of every woman is a basis for her every right," Forslund said, and urged legislators to consider conscience protections for taxpayers who oppose abortion.
Katie DeLand, testifying for Ohio Right to Life, said HB 410 would "build directly on this work, drawing a clear line." DeLand referenced an earlier state appropriation and a state report, saying, "The General Assembly made a historic investment in Ohio's pregnancy resource centers by allocating $20,000,000 in Sub House Bill 96," and that the Ohio Department of Health report showed an increase in out-of-state abortions with "over 3,000 cases in 2024 performed here in Ohio for the third year in a row." DeLand argued the bill would prevent taxpayer dollars from being used "directly or indirectly to facilitate the destruction of human life."
Both witnesses framed HB 410 as intended to direct state resources toward pregnancy and family services while excluding providers that facilitate abortion. Committee members did not ask substantive follow-up questions of the two witnesses during the recorded portion of the hearing. Committee staff noted there are additional written testimonies on committee iPads, including submissions from Margie Christie of Dayton Right to Life and Janine Jones, president of Cleveland Right to Life.
No motion or vote on HB 410 was recorded during the hearing. The committee proceeded to take up other legislation after the proponent testimony.
