In May 2023, the Charlotte Lozier Institute released a peer-reviewed study showing 60 percent of women who had abortions would have carried their child to term if they had greater emotional or financial support. The research emphasizes why the pro-life mission has long been to help women as well as advocate for unborn children. While states have made great advances since Roe, the work to serve mothers during pregnancy and after a child is born continues.
This year, governors in more than a dozen states with pro-life laws approved new safety net measures to increase the support offered to women. The bills range from childcare assistance and child tax credits to Medicaid extension and safe haven policies.
Keep reading for a roundup of 30+ of the new pro-life safety net measures that have been signed into law so far this year.
Gov. Kay Ivey signed ACT2024-303 into law which provides childcare facilities tax credits of up to $25,000 annually and $2,000 for each child participating in the Alabama Department of Health Resource’s Child Care Subsidy program. The program will start with a cap of $15 million in the first year and increase to $20 million by the end of 2027.
After including $25 million in pregnancy center funding in the heartbeat law passed in 2023, the state of Florida added to the pro-life safety net this year through the passage of three new bills:
In Georgia, Rep. Lauren Daniel – a young mother of four who had her first child before graduating high school and over naysayers’ doubts graduated college and was elected to serve in the state legislator – championed new measures to help moms to the finish line. One bill, HB 1046, creates a state commission on Maternal and Infant Health to explore and document comprehensive information on the medical well-being and health of mothers and their infants. This is meant to inform and supplement future healthcare policy decisions in the state. Her other bill, HB 1021, raises the state’s child tax credit from $3,000 to $4,000 for each child dependent. Rep. Daniel ushered these bills to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk all while bringing her youngest son along with her in a baby wrap carrier. Her son even had his own name tag this session: Zane Daniel, Baby of the House.
As Idaho’s pro-life protection of babies through all nine months of pregnancy remains in effect despite the Biden Administration’s attempt to take it down with a distorted interpretation of EMTALA, Gov. Brad Little signed these pro-mom bills into law this year:
Signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb, SB 2 establishes a new childcare dashboard on the state website that provides state and federal information on childcare subsidies available for Indiana residents. The bill also allows children of childcare workers to qualify for assistance from On My Way Pre-K and the Child Care and Development Fund which both assist in helping families attain access to quality childcare and pre-kindergarten education. Additionally, HB 1102 eliminates unnecessary regulations on in-home childcare and kinship care.
After signing a new heartbeat bill in 2023, this year Gov. Kim Reynolds approved a number of measures to help mothers in Iowa.
Three prominent pro-life safety measures made it across the finish line in Kentucky this legislative session.
Louisiana earned a lot of headlines by becoming the first state to protect women from abusers by placing dangerous abortion drugs on the controlled substance list. But little to no national attention came the state’s way when Gov. Jeff Landry signed these pro-mom bills into law:
After passing a 12-week law last year, Nebraska has continued to strengthen protections for life with the passage of LB 876, the Newborn Safe Haven Act, that allows parents to safely surrender babies younger than 90 days at a hospital, fire station, law enforcement agency, or with an emergency care provider. This is a 60-day increase from the original 30-day cutoff. Nebraska also increased tax credits for pregnancy help organizations through the passage of LB 606.
South Dakota became the first state in the nation to pass a Med Ed law which establishes training materials for doctors to educate them on their ability to use their ‘reasonable medical judgment’ under the state’s ‘life of the mother’ exception. The law addresses abortion lobby misinformation by making it clear to healthcare professionals and the public that pregnant women in South Dakota must continue to receive emergency care.
With the passage of SB 147, Utah is increasing funding for adoption counseling and directing HHS to provide expanded pregnancy support services to women with unplanned pregnancies. Under this law, pregnant women are supported through education, screenings, ultrasounds, parenting education, and a multitude of other maternal support resources.
West Virginia is expanding its financial support to moms through budget bill SB 200 which allocates $3 million dollars to the state’s funding program for pregnancy centers and other life affirming resources. This is a $2 million increase from the original $1 million investment last year.
Wyoming’s HB 0090 extends the safe haven period for parents from 14 days to 60 days.
Did your state pass a pro-life safety net measure this year that isn’t on this list? Reach out to us at [email protected] so we can update this list.
The SBA Pro-Life America National Pro-life Scorecard is a tool that helps hold members of Congress accountable for their legislative records on life and that highlights leadership in the fight to serve women and save babies.
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