Oppose HB 1334, SB 171, and SB 245: Protect Hoosier Rights and Fertility Options

I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB 1334, SB 171, and SB 245. These bills are harmful to Indiana residents and represent a significant overreach into private, deeply personal matters. They do nothing to improve our state’s economy, infrastructure, or educational system and instead impose severe restrictions on healthcare and reproductive rights. Concerns with HB 1334 HB 1334 redefines zygotes, embryos, and fetuses as human beings under Indiana’s criminal code and classifies abortion as murder. This bill: • Criminalizes critical healthcare decisions, placing doctors and women at risk of prosecution even in complex medical situations like miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies. • Strips families of autonomy, forcing women to carry pregnancies regardless of their personal, medical, or financial circumstances. This bill fundamentally infringes on a Hoosier woman’s right to make decisions about her body and family. It risks devastating consequences for women’s health and lives. Concerns with SB 171 and SB 245 SB 171 and SB 245 ban abortion-inducing medications, including for miscarriage treatment. These bills: • Interfere with essential medical care, as medications like Mifepristone and Misoprostol are widely used to treat miscarriages. Restricting access forces women to endure unnecessary surgical procedures or life-threatening complications. • Criminalize doctors and patients, undermining trust in healthcare providers and discouraging them from offering necessary care. These bills worsen Indiana’s maternal healthcare crisis by restricting safe, evidence-based options. The requirement for survivors of rape or incest to provide an affidavit in SB 171 adds further trauma during deeply personal circumstances. Broader Implications None of these bills improve Indiana’s economy, education, or infrastructure—critical areas needing attention. Instead, they: • Harm Indiana families by limiting access to healthcare. • Drive physicians out of the state, worsening Indiana’s already critical physician shortage. • Discourage businesses and residents from staying in or moving to Indiana. Conclusion I urge you to oppose HB 1334, SB 171, and SB 245. These bills strip Hoosier women of their rights, limit essential healthcare, and harm Indiana’s reputation. Our state should focus on policies that foster growth, opportunity, and well-being—not criminalize healthcare decisions and restrict autonomy. I appreciate your attention to this matter and urge you to take a stand against these harmful bills.