SYLVANIA, Ohio — Ohio House Bill 475 aims to prohibit state funds for local governments that support abortion.
Kristin Hady, who is on the board of the Agnes Reynolds Jackson Fund, an organization working to provide abortion access to northwest Ohio, said the limits proposed by the bill would be harmful to people who are seeking an abortion but don't have the money to pay for it.
"There are a lot of people out there that wouldn't get the abortions that they need if someone didn't step in and pay for it," she said.
Hady said Ohio voters made clear their stance on abortion rights when they voted to enshrine it in the state constitution in November.
But state Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania), the bill's primary sponsor, says Ohioans are still split.
"Over 45% of Ohio voted no on Issue 1, so what you're saying is, for half of Ohio, we're going to force you to pay taxes on something that you diametrically oppose," Williams, who introduced HB 475 to the state House on Monday, said.
If passed, local government leaders in Ohio would have to report any money spent on abortion services, including things like travel costs and donations to groups that support abortion rights.
The information would be given to the state auditor every month. The state would then withhold an equal amount of money from that city or county government, Williams said.
"We're specifically speaking about elective abortions where a woman makes a choice to end a healthy pregnancy before it is brought to term," he said.
Hady said the Aggie Fund currently does not receive money from Lucas County or Toledo, so the bill would not affect the organization.
But it would affect Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio because it receives money from several local governments around Ohio, executive director Lauren Blauvelt says.
The money does not fund abortions, though, she said.
"Planned Parenthood is an important public health organization that is providing necessary health care and education to residents across Ohio," Blauvelt said. "Of course, there are local governments that are supporting that important work, and they should be able to continue."
If this bill does become law, Hady said abortion rights groups won't go down without a fight.
"We get to come from a place of offense and I'm really excited about the future of that," she said.
This bill will have to go through several state committees and votes before becoming law.