Oppose HB2043: Fetal Personhood Expansion in First-Degree Murder Statute

I urge you to oppose HB2043, which is scheduled for consideration by the House Judiciary Committee this Wednesday. This bill, sponsored by Representative Selina Bliss, would amend Arizona Revised Statutes Chapter 13, Article 1105 to add "causing the death of an unborn child at any stage of development" to the definition of first-degree murder when committed during another crime. This legislation advances a fetal personhood framework that grants fetuses the same legal status as living persons. The phrase "at any stage of development" is particularly concerning because it makes no distinction between a fertilized egg and a viable fetus, contradicting established medical and scientific understanding of pregnancy. This approach has profound implications for women's healthcare and bodily autonomy. Fetal personhood laws create dangerous legal ambiguities that can criminalize pregnancy outcomes beyond their stated intent. Women who experience miscarriages, which occur in approximately 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies, could face investigation. Healthcare providers may delay or refuse necessary medical interventions out of fear of prosecution, even when a woman's life is at risk. These laws have been used in other states to prosecute women for behaviors during pregnancy, effectively making pregnant women subject to heightened legal scrutiny that no other group faces. The bill was held in committee on January 14, 2026 without a vote, suggesting concerns even among committee members. Arizona already has robust laws addressing violence against pregnant women, including enhanced penalties. HB2043 does not strengthen protections for pregnant women but instead establishes a legal precedent that undermines their rights and access to healthcare. I ask that you vote against HB2043 in committee and oppose any efforts to advance this legislation. Arizona should protect women's health and safety without imposing an ideology that treats pregnancy as a separate legal person from the woman herself.