Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a pro-life bill into law prior to the end of 2020. The bill requires the Ohio Department of Health to establish rules for proper and humane burial or cremation of unborn babies who are victims of abortion.
The goal of the bill is to honor and recognize the humanity of the unborn. In addition, the intent is to keep abortion facilities from selling aborted baby body parts.
Ohio Right to Life celebrated the bill’s signing.
“After years of hard work and dedication, the Unborn Child Dignity Act has finally been signed into law,” said Mike Gonidakis, president of the organization. “No longer will the tiny bodies of babies whose lives have been tragically taken by abortion be treated like trash. In Ohio, we respect life and we bury our dead. The abortion industry, who has for decades tried to convince women that the lives of their children don’t matter and should simply be thrown away, will now be unable to hide behind this blatant lie.”
A similar bill was progressing through the Iowa House last year. House Study Bill 660 passed through committee on Feb. 19, but like many pieces of legislation, COVID-19 killed it.
You can read about the committee hearing regarding that bill here.
Rep. Anne Osmundson, who was managing the bill, said the remains “are not to be treated as medical waste because this is a baby.”
“This baby, it needs to be treated with dignity,” Osmundson said.
Democrats argued the bill is difficult because it impacts a broad segment of women who have suffered loss. Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell asked what the legal purpose of the legislation is.