Bill to Make Abortions Illegal in ND Passes by One Vote - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Bill to Make Abortions Illegal in ND Passes by One Vote

The North Dakota Senate passes two bills that would ban and limit abortions in the state...

Donnell Preskey has more on the debate.

Senate Bill 2303 defines a person as a human being at all stages. If passed, it would make abortions illegal in North Dakota with exceptions for medical emergencies. The Senate passed the bill by one vote 24-23. Most of the debate revolved around contraception and frozen embryos.

(Sen. Connie Triplett / (D) Grand Forks) "This interferes with the right of every woman of child bearing age to make decisions about her reproductive rights. Please vote no.

(Sen. Carolyn Nelson / (D) Fargo) "I quite frankly, don't like abortions, but I don't think it's my right to tell your wife or daughter or who ever what her medical decision should be.

(Sen. John Grabinger / (D) Jamestown) "For all the families and future families made whole by our in vitro professionals who oppose this bill, I and a majority of judiciary committee ask for a do not pass on this bill."

(Sen. Margaret Sitte / (R) Bismarck) "A human embryo is a human being. Yes, it may be small. But you and I were all human embryo's. No, they won't be wards of the state. There are so many people around the nation who want to adopt embryo's, there are so many people who struggle with infertility issues. This is a reasonable bill."

The Senate also passed 2368, which makes it a crime to perform an abortion after 20 weeks.

Both abortion related bills now move to the House.

Reporting from the Capitol, Donnell Preskey, KX News.

Seven bills related to abortion were introduced this session.

They have now all been voted on a first time.

Six have so far passed their chamber of origin.