TULSA, Okla. — Oklahoma is one of at least 13 states prepared to act on Friday's change to federal abortion law.
The U.S. Supreme Court opinionreleased Friday from the conservative-leaning court overturned the landmark case Roe v. Wade.
MORE >>> Roe v. Wade overturned: Supreme Court paves way for states to ban abortions
Oklahoma's Republican-led legislature and Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt approved multiple new abortion-restricting laws over the last year, including a "trigger law" that would immediately take effect when Roe v. Wade is overturned.
Stitt signed Senate Bill 1555 on April 29, saying any decision by the high court that partially or fully overturns the Roe and Casey rulings would automatically prohibit abortions in Oklahoma.
The governor already signed a bill that would make performing an abortion a felony. That law would usually be struck down in court, but a change to Roe v. Wade could legally allow it to be upheld.
Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor certified the state's statutes that prohibit abortion throughout pregnancy. The laws are also meant to prosecute those who provide or help to provide abortion services. Senate Bill 612, passed this year, will become the primary prohibition once the law takes effect on Aug. 26. Until then, civil penalties could likely be obtained throughout pregnancy under House Bill 4327, which includes exceptions for rape and incest, and became effective May 25, 2022. No Oklahoma law authorizes prosecuting a mother.
Two other anti-abortion bills mirror Texas bans that are in place, banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, and another that bans essentially all abortions. Stitt signed the former in May while the latter is still in the state legislature.
President Joe Biden andSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer both vowed to work on codifying Roe v. Wade into law, but that effort had been filibustered by Republican lawmakers.
MORE >>> Could Congress or President Biden act if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade?
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