Republican women serving in Georgia House pen legislation to protect access to contraception
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A group of Republican women in the Georgia House said they’re hearing concerns about where the state stands on contraceptives.
Public and Community Health Committee Chairwoman Rep. Sharon Cooper, R-Marietta, filed House Bill 872 on Thursday.
It’s a short bill summed up by one of its lines, “Females have the right to the use of any means of contraception.”
A handful of the state’s most powerful Republican women signed on, including Speaker Pro-Tempore Jan Jones.
“It has been portrayed by some that Republicans might want to restrict access to contraceptives, and the bill makes it very clear that that is not the case,” said Jones.
Meanwhile, Republican State Rep. Emory Donahoo sponsored another bill, HB 441, which includes a personhood amendment. The bill drew a crowd of pro-life supporters that filled the hallways of the Capitol for a hearing on Wednesday.
If made law, abortion would be considered murder, and some people feel contraceptives like IUDs could be outlawed.
One of the cosigners of HB 872, Republican state Rep. Beth Camp, said access to contraceptives is critical to supporting Georgia women.
“I don’t think everyone understands the significance that contraception brought to our country. The ability to go to school, the ability to finish school, the ability to plan your family accordingly, to have a career, to be able to have a work life that can support a family,” said Camp.
The bill faces a ticking clock. The session ends next Friday. Jones suggests the bill could be tacked onto a similar bill before the deadline.
The bill unites women across party lines. Democrat State Rep. Michelle Au said she’s happy to see her Republican colleagues sharing her concerns.
“It shows the way that the legal environment in this country has shifted so far to the right that we are talking about protecting rights that we had long assumed were inherent,” Au said.
After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas penned an opinion, suggesting the court should reconsider other opinions, including the right for married people to receive contraceptives.
Au indicated she would be happy to sign the bill. Cooper said she’s welcome to.
“I’d be delighted to have anybody sign it who wants to sign it,” said Cooper.
The Georgia Speaker of the House, Jon Burns, showed his support of the measure during a press conference on Friday.
While celebrating the passage of a bill to codify IVF access, he said he supports the female members of his party who prioritize Georgia families.
“They continue to educate people like me on what they need to have a fulfilling life,” said Burns.
April 4 is Sine Die. There are a few committees left to meet and even fewer chances for voting.
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