Bill that would give Utah among strictest abortion law lengthened from 15-week window to 18 weeks

SALT LAKE CITY — The sponsor of a bill that would have given Utah one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country has revised the bill to allow abortions up until 18 weeks gestation rather than 15 weeks.

Rep. Cheryl Acton, R-West Jordan, announced her revision in the House Republican caucus meeting Tuesday, saying she made the change for "some strategic reasons" — including aligning it with a similar bill being proposed in Arkansas — and to give the law better chances of surviving a legal challenge if passed by the Utah Legislature.

"Utah is known as a pro-family state. We have the nation's highest birth rate," Acton said. "So we should be the safest place in the nation, born and unborn."

Currently, Utah law allows abortions up to 22 weeks gestation, but many Utah doctors draw the line at 21 weeks to avoid risk of violating the law, Acton said.

Read more: https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900056522/bill-that-would-give-utah-among-strictest-abortion-law-lengthened-from-15-week-window-to-18-weeks.html