Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Kansas' Abortion Laws Could Be In Jeopardy Depending On How High Court Rules In Pending Case
The Kansas Supreme Court could soon decide whether there鈥檚 a right to abortion in the state constitution. Gov. Jeff Colyer wants lawmakers to consider amending the constitution to establish that such a right doesn鈥檛 exist. In his first address to lawmakers this week, the Republican governor called for amending the state constitution to help protect Kansas abortion restrictions. That came in response to a case pending before the Kansas high court. Justices are considering a lower court ruling that recognized a right to abortion in the state constitution. (Koranda, 2/8)
Amid sharply differing and emotional聽opinions, an Iowa Senate subcommittee has聽advanced a bill to ban聽nearly all Iowa abortions in what some conservative lawmakers hope could become a constitutional test before the nation's highest court. The Senate panel voted 2-1 Thursday聽to approve聽Senate Study Bill 3143, sending it for further consideration before the Senate Judiciary Committee. A similar bill, although not identical, is pending in the Iowa House. (Petroski, 2/8)
A bill that would change state law to cement funding for pregnancy support centers, which discourage abortion and provide some medical services for unplanned pregnancies, will head to Gov. Rick Scott鈥檚 desk after it was passed by the Senate Thursday. The bill makes more permanent a contract the Department of Health has with the Florida Pregnancy Care Network, which runs more than 100 pregnancy centers through a collection of largely faith-based groups. (Koh, 2/8)