Just this week the South Dakota House approved a bill that could require women seeking abortions to wait longer.
"Really what House Bill 1237 is attempting to do is make sure that before woman make this decision, that could be really the most profound decision of their life, that they have all the information possible," Republican Senator Phyllis Heineman of District 13 said.
New legislation in Pierre aims to give women the ability to get more information and time before having an abortion. The current state law requires a woman to wait three days, but House Bill 1237 would no longer allow weekends and holidays to be considered during the wait period.
Heineman is the Senate sponsor to this bill.
"What many have told me over the years is that they perhaps rushed into it. They weren't able to get all the information they needed and they wish to have more time or more chances to visit with councilors," Heineman said.
The bill passed with a 56-13 vote in the House, but one legislator against it is Democratic Representative Marc Feinstein of District 14.
"Pregnancy happens at all hours. People don't get pregnant between 8:00 and 5:00 on a weekday and another analogy is that when a baby is to be delivered the doctor doesn't say, 'oh, it's Saturday and there is a Monday holiday so come back on Tuesday.' It happens," Feinstein said.
While those in favor the bill say it gives women more education ahead of the procedure, others say the bill is just more red tape.
"This bill is not about an abortion ban. We already have the 72 hour wait and this is just saying that we're going to expand it additional 72 hours if your first consultation happens to be on a Friday and it's a holiday weekend. To me it just doesn't make a lot of sense," Feinstein said.
Next week House Bill 1237 will be read in the Senate State Affairs Committee. If it passes committee it will go to the Senate floor.
