Latest news with #HouseBill194
The Hill
06-03-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Abortion care has resumed in Missouri after voters enshrined rights. Providers fear it won't last
Abortion clinics have resumed service in Missouri after voters opted to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution and a federal judge temporarily blocked restrictions that had lingered after the election. Abortion providers in the state worry the restoration of access could soon be undone, however, given the breadth of anti-abortion bills being considered by the state legislature. 'I'm happy and optimistic but in the back of my mind I do worry,' said Margaret Baum, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, one of two abortion providers in the state outside of hospitals. 'Are we going to go backwards again?' Republican lawmakers in Missouri introduced a slew of bills aimed at weakening or getting rid of the state's newabortion protections at the beginning of the state legislative session in January. Those bills include two proposed constitutional amendments, t he first of which would outlaw the procedure except in medical emergencies and in cases with fetal anomalies,as well as in some cases involving rape or incest if patients presented required documentation. Lawmakers held a public hearing on the measure last month, a few weeks before abortion services resumed in the state. If the amendmentpasses the state's General Assembly, Missourians could vote on whether to adopt itas early as this year. The second proposed amendment would make abortion illegal after the point of fetal viability, around 24 weeks into pregnancy. Other abortion-related bills state lawmakers have introduced also seek to change at what point an abortion can be performed. House Bill 194,for instance, seeks to prohibit the procedure in Missouri after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. Lawmakers have targeted medication abortion as well, including in a bill proposing the abortion drug mifepristone be reclassified as a Class IV controlled substance — just as it was under a law passed by Republicans in Louisiana last year. 'The legislature has shown its cards,' said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, the second abortion provider in the state. 'They don't want people to get reproductive care. They don't trust people to make their own medical decisions.' Missouri became the first state to overturn a near-total ban on abortion last year whenvoters approved a constitutional amendment to include a fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Abortions had previouslybeen outlawed in Missouri since 2022, when the state became the first in the country to enact a trigger law banning the procedure after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. After Roe was overturned, the state's Planned Parenthood branches were still connecting people to abortions, but Missourians had to travel to clinics in neighboring states Kansas and Illinois. Soon after the constitutional amendment was approved in November, Planned Parenthood sued the state for its abortion ban and a number of other restrictions on the procedure. A Jackson County Circuit Court judge ruled in Decemberthat the ban was unenforceable, but did not issue any judgments regarding the state's other abortion laws, like one requiring abortion facilities to be licensed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The same Jackson County judge issued a temporary injunction on the clinical requirements in February after Planned Parenthood argued they made it impossible for it to provide abortions in the state, allowing the organization to perform the procedure again. The case is slated to go to trial again in 2026. Even if none of the proposed legislation passes this year, the future of abortion access in the state will remain precarious until a final decision on the case is made next January, according to Baum. For now, however, abortion providers at both Planned Parenthood affiliates arereturning to more normal abortion services,though theycan only provide surgical abortions for the time being. The clinics will not be able to give patients abortion pills until the state approves a required plan for reporting complications from taking the drugs. A Planned Parenthood in Colombia, Mo., started to schedule and see patients for surgical abortions this week. 'As a physician, and just as a human in general, [I think] it is always better for people to get the care they need in the community they live in,' said Imam Alsaden, chief medical director of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. 'Or at least as close to the community they live in as possible.'
Associated Press
19-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Love Heals Youth Champions Groundbreaking Foster Care Reform: The Sound of Hope Act
House Bill 194 Seeks to Transform Child Welfare Through Faith-Based Community Support 'House Bill 194 represents a groundbreaking step toward a more compassionate and sustainable foster care system—one that nurtures children with stability, love, and the long-term support they need' — Rebecca Smith CONROE, TX, UNITED STATES, February 19, 2025 / / -- Love Heals Youth, a volunteer-run organization dedicated to bringing hope and healing to foster youth through transformative counseling services is applauding the recently filed The Sound of Hope Act (House Bill 194). The Bill sponsored by Representative Steve Toth of District 15 introduces a faith-driven approach to foster care, empowering churches and faith-based institutions to serve as an alternative support system for children in need. Love Heals Youth is encouraging widespread support for this initiative. To raise awareness of this landmark legislation, a special event coinciding with Child Welfare Legislative Day will be held in Austin, TX on February 25. 'At Love Heals Youth, we have witnessed firsthand the power of faith and community in changing the lives of foster children,' said Rebecca Smith, founder of Love Heals Youth. 'House Bill 194 represents a groundbreaking step toward a more compassionate and sustainable foster care system—one that nurtures children with stability, love, and the long-term support they need to thrive. We invite everyone to join us in this mission to ensure no child walks this journey alone.' Inspired by the heartwarming story of Possum Trot, as depicted in the Angel Studios film 'Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot,' House Bill 194 aims to establish a compassionate, community-based model that fosters stability, love, and healing for children in the child welfare system. Love Heals Youth is sharing key highlights of the legislation to encourage support for it. Key benefits include: • Faith-Based Foster Care: Churches and faith-based institutions can apply to provide comprehensive foster care services, operating alongside the state's existing system. • Family-Focused Solutions: The initiative prioritizes placing children with families and works to reunite them with their biological relatives whenever possible. It also encourages long-term relationships between churches and families to ensure continued support even after court cases close. • Holistic Care Model: Participating churches will have the opportunity to address all aspects of foster care, offering a consistent and nurturing environment within a single community hub. • Breaking the Cycle: The legislation seeks to reduce foster care recidivism and interrupt generational cycles by providing children with enduring support systems. • Cost-Effective Approach: By alleviating excessive administrative burdens, the Sound of Hope Act offers a fiscally responsible solution to the state's foster care challenges. Rebecca Smith played a pivotal role in drafting the initial version of the bill, reinforcing the organization's commitment to transforming the foster care system. Michelle Lehn is leading the coalition effort to mobilize churches statewide, ensuring a robust faith-based support network to implement the Sound of Hope model effectively. 'We believe that every child deserves a loving, stable, and supportive environment,' Smith continued. 'House Bill 194 presents an opportunity to empower faith-based communities to step up and make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable children. We are calling on individuals, churches, and organizations to stand with us in this movement.' Public support is crucial to the success of this groundbreaking legislation. Love Heals Youth urges community members to take action by visiting and selecting 'Join the Cause' to show their support for House Bill 194. Together, we can transform foster care, providing children with the love, stability, and support they deserve. Let's stand united in giving every child a chance to thrive within a compassionate community. About the Sound of Hope Act The Sound of Hope Act seeks to establish a faith-based, community-driven parallel foster care system, modeled after the inspiring success of Possum Trot. With an emphasis on family restoration, long-term relationship-building, and holistic care, this legislation aims to create a more compassionate and effective child welfare system. About Love Heals Youth Love Heals Youth is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hope, healing, and transformative counseling services to children in the foster care system. Through trauma-informed support, mentorship, and faith-based community engagement, Love Heals Youth empowers vulnerable youth to overcome adversity and build brighter futures. Committed to reshaping the foster care landscape, the organization actively advocates for policies that prioritize family restoration and long-term stability for children in need. To learn more, visit ### For more information, or to schedule an interview with Rebecca Smith, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or [email protected] Dan Rene Dan Rene Communications +1 202-329-8357 [email protected]
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill protecting cultural expression at graduation ceremonies passes first committee
A dance group with Elvia Sanchez perform the Hopi Butterfly Dance, at the Santa Fe Indian School Feast Day on Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Diana Cervantes for Source NM) Native students would be free to wear culturally significant items during school ceremonies under two proposed bills making their way through the Legislature. Co-sponsors Reps. D. Wonda Johnson (D-Rehoboth) and Janelle Anyanonu (D-Albuquerque) presented House Bill 194 to the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee Monday morning, which unanimously passed the bill. It now heads to the House Education Committee. It is one of the two bills introduced this session to prohibit schools from banning Native American cultural expression at ceremonies. Specifically, HB 194 makes changes to the Public School Code to restrain public, private and charter schools in New Mexico from restricting Native students from wearing culturally significant items during graduation or promotion ceremonies. The bill is a response to incidents in recent years when tribal regalia was banned or removed during graduation ceremonies. A Farmington High School tribal member had her graduation cap confiscated during a ceremony last year. 'It is very important to the people of New Mexico that we be allowed to express ourselves and our heritage and our culture without any resistance and certainly without any punishment,' Anyanonu said during the meeting. Representatives from NM Native Vote, ACLU of New Mexico, the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, the Bureau of Indian Education at the Public Education Department and the National Organization for Women all spoke in support of the bill. 'New Mexico thrives off the tourist dollars of our native tribes and pueblos yet steal in educational spaces,' Bernadette Hardy (Jemez Pueblo/Diné), a representative from NM Native Vote, said to committee members. 'Our indigenous youth are denied representation and one of those most important times in their young life.' A similar proposal, Senate Bill 163, will be presented to the Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee Tuesday morning. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
