SB 154 - Removes the right to abortion from the right to privacy. This bill has now passed the Montana House and Senate and is on Governor Gianforte's desk. If he signs it, it becomes Montana law. In other words, abortion will no longer be protected under Montana's privacy laws.
Do you have an opinion? Tell Governor Gianforte what you think. And don't hesitate, because all it takes is his signature to make this law!
Click here to send a message to Governor Gianforte.
This is an attempt by the Republican supermajority to do a run-around the Montana Constitution. They aren't putting it on the ballot as a Constitutional Amendment for the people to decide - probably because they didn't have the votes to meet the 2/3rds vote threshhold. Instead, they increased the budget for legal fees to defend bills - including this one - that they know will most likely be challenged in court. Just think of all the constructive things that money could pay for.
The Montana Supreme Court’s historic 1999 Armstrong Decision made it clear that the right to privacy granted to all Montanans under the Constitution also protects the right to access abortion. In an attempt to throw out over 24 years of legal precedent, Republicans passed SB 154, which would explicitly carve out the right to reproductive care from the Constitution’s privacy clause– the legality of which has been called into question by legal review. SB 154 will soon head to the Governor for signature.