CV NEWS FEED // The North Dakota Legislature recently passed a bill that, after the governor’s signature, would require physicians to watch an informational video about the state’s pro-life laws at least two years before they perform an abortion, increasing protections for life in the state.
InForum, a North Dakota newspaper, reported that the state House of Representatives approved the bill in February, and the Senate overwhelmingly approved it in early April after amending a few sections. The House passed it again April 9 with a 72-17 vote.
HB 1511 requires three sections of North Dakota’s Century Code to be laid out in the educational video. First, it must explain the instances in which an abortion may be legally performed, which is any time before six weeks of pregnancy in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother’s health. Second, it must lay out the regulations and proper procedure for rare cases of abortion. Third, it must explain that partial-birth abortions are illegal in almost every case, with exceptions to save the life of the mother if every effort is made to also save the life of the child.
The bill’s final draft will head to Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong for his signature unless it is referred to the conference committee first. Armstrong is publicly pro-life, listing his commitment to protecting unborn life on his gubernatorial website and receiving an “A+” pro-life rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
According to InForum, the North Dakota Supreme Court is currently deciding whether the state’s pro-life law protecting life after six weeks of pregnancy can stand.
The bill allocates up to $50,000 of state funds to pay for an OB/GYN with at least 25 years of experience to develop an educational video on the state’s abortion laws for physicians to view. The video must be reviewed and approved by Republican Attorney General Drew Wrigley.
InForum reported that hospitals are currently the only places in the state where women can legally obtain abortions. The state’s only standalone abortion provider left the state after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.
