20-02-2025
Bill to remove abortion exemptions for rape, incest introduced for second time in West Virginia legislative session
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — Less than 24 hours after a West Virginia senator withdrew his bill that would've removed rape and incest as exemptions to the state's abortion law, a functionally identical bill was reintroduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday morning.
House Bill 2712 would remove sections from §16-2R-3, which makes abortion illegal in West Virginia with some exceptions. The wording in the bill is the same as Senate Bill 51, which was introduced by Senator Jay Taylor (R – Taylor, 14) and later withdrawn.
Delegate Lisa White (R – Berkeley, 096) is the lead sponsor of the bill, and is joined on the bill by nine other delegates, two of which are from north central West Virginia:
Adam Burkhammer (R – Lewis, 064)
Elias Coop-Gonzalez (R – Randolph, 067)
Chris Anders (R – Berkeley, 097)
Larry D. Kump (R – Berkeley, 094)
Pat McGeehan (R – Hancock, 001)
Bill Ridenour (R – Jefferson, 100)
Jonathan Pinson (R – Mason, 017)
Bryan Ward (R – Hardy, 086)
Henry C. Dillon (R – Wayne, 029)
The proposed amendment would remove abortion exemptions for victims of rape or incest, including exceptions for victims who are minors.
Exceptions to West Virginia's abortion ban currently include a nonviable embryo or fetus, an ectopic pregnancy, a medical emergency, or early-stage pregnancies that were the result of rape or incest that was reported to law enforcement.
The proposed amendment would also remove language requiring the agency or person a rape or incest against a minor was reported to also report it to the Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations Unit of the West Virginia State Police within 48 hours.
Senator Taylor eventually withdrew the bill from the senate, saying he had received threats directed towards his family after introducing the bill.
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Delegate White, the lead sponsor for the new bill, was also attached to another house bill that would ban 'woke words' from state legislature.
You can read the proposed amendment to West Virginia's abortion law below, or online at the West Virginia legislature website.
hb2712-intrDownload
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