The legislation also prohibits Oregon law enforcement from assisting other states in criminal investigations of pro-life laws, and it reiterates that health insurance (including Medicaid) must provide coverage for abortions.
The repealed law required parents or guardians to give consent before their minor children have abortions. After the repeal passed in the Oregon House, Senate Republicans staged a six-week walkout leading to a few minor concessions. Changes to the bill before passage removed language expanding abortion in rural areas and college campuses.
Another compromise added language stating parental notification can only be bypassed if a second medical provider agrees that it is in the minor's best interest. This is not expected to have much impact.
In addition to protecting innocent unborn lives, parental consent and parental notification laws are powerful tools to protect children from sex trafficking and rape. Without these laws, predators and sex traffickers can easily use abortion to hide their conduct from parents and law enforcement.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker similarly signed the repeal of Illinois's Parental Notice of Abortion Act in December of 2021. The repeal went into effect on June 1, 2022.
