Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the Third Judicial District Court for Salt Lake City, Utah heard oral arguments in Planned Parenthood Association of Utah’s (PPAU) case challenging H.B. 467. Passed by Utah lawmakers during the 2023 legislative session, H.B. 467 would functionally eliminate access to abortion in the state starting May 3 should the court allow it to take effect. Among other provisions, H.B. 467 bans abortion care from being provided anywhere but at a hospital, even though abortion remains legal up until 18 weeks of pregnancy. Because licensed clinics rather than hospitals provide over 95% of abortions in Utah, this law amounts to a functional abortion ban across the state.
Joint Statement from Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, American Civil Liberties Union of Utah Foundation, Inc.:
“Today, we made clear to the Court that H.B. 467 is an unconstitutional abortion ban that would have a catastrophic impact on the lives and health of Utahns. By banning specialized clinics like Planned Parenthood health centers from providing abortion, it would disproportionately harm those who already struggle the most to access vital health care in the state, and undermine the rights of all Utahns to make their own personal medical decisions. We are grateful to have had our day in court and are hopeful that the judge rules swiftly to permanently block the implementation of this dangerous and harmful law before it takes effect on May 3.”
The supplemental complaint against H.B. 467 was filed as part of PPAU’s existing lawsuit against the state’s trigger ban, which would have banned nearly all abortions if not enjoined by the district court last summer.
PPAU is represented by attorneys at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Zimmerman Booher, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah.
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