A state representative from Rutherford County has withdrawn a bill that would have required doctors to show women an ultrasound of their fetus before getting an abortion. Lawmakers said they were concerned about a technicality of the bill, but it hasn’t had much support from the start.
Anti-abortion advocates have said for months that they wanted to pass certain specific laws this legislative session: requiring a waiting period between seeing a doctor and having the procedure; making abortion clinics become licensed surgical centers; and requiring doctors to tell women certain information.
The ultrasound bill that Rep. Rick Womick (R-Rockvale) introduced was not on that list. So he didn’t seem too surprised when he couldn’t rally strong support because of a lack of commitment from Republican leadership.
“Even though they promised me two years ago this would be a priority bill, they reneged on that and decided to go on three other bills,” he said after withdrawing the bill in a House subcommittee meeting. “Which is fine, but I’ll be back next year.”
One of the main concerns that conservative lawmakers and lobbyists had with the bill was its constitutionality. Some said it might be easily challenged in court — and indeed, similar laws in other states have been challenged. Womick says he may change the bill next year so women could opt out: Women who don’t want information about their ultrasound wouldn’t have to see or hear it.
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