1. United States
2. Mont.
3. Letter

The decision to define personhood as starting at conception would severely limit access to critical reproductive healthcare services in Montana. This move contradicts the will of voters who overwhelmingly supported protecting abortion rights through the passage of Constitutional Initiative 128 in the last election. Montanans value their right to make personal medical decisions without excessive government interference. Amending the state constitution to grant fetuses full personhood rights from conception raises serious concerns about potential criminalization of healthcare providers and pregnant individuals seeking standard reproductive care like fertility treatments, birth control, and miscarriage management. This poorly defined legislation provides no framework to prevent overzealous prosecution for routine medical procedures. I urge you to defend Montanans' reproductive freedoms by opposing House Bill 318 and any attempts to roll back constitutionally protected abortion access in our state.