HARRISBURG, PA — State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester, announced that the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee has advanced a package of bills aimed at expanding protections and access to reproductive health care, including abortion.
Shusterman’s own proposal, House Bill 2005, was among seven measures approved Wednesday. Her bill seeks to eliminate Pennsylvania’s current 24-hour waiting period and mandatory counseling requirements for individuals seeking an abortion.
“These requirements create unnecessary obstacles and often deter pregnant individuals from accessing abortion care,” Shusterman said. “The waiting period requirement forces women seeking care to make multiple trips to a clinic or health care provider. Patients find this requirement to be financially burdensome, as it requires them to take additional time off work, arrange childcare, and incur the expenses involved with traveling a long distance.”
The committee also advanced several other measures:
- H.B. 670: Incorporates the federal FACE Act into state law to protect abortion clinics and patients from harassment.
- H.B. 1640: Shields reproductive services records from disclosure in Pennsylvania civil and criminal actions.
- H.B. 1641: Bars insurance companies from penalizing healthcare providers who serve out-of-state patients seeking reproductive care.
- H.B. 1643: Prohibits Pennsylvania courts from enforcing out-of-state judgments related to reproductive healthcare.
- H.B. 1957: Proposes a constitutional amendment guaranteeing personal reproductive liberty.
- H.B. 1966: Forbids Pennsylvania courts from cooperating with out-of-state cases involving reproductive healthcare services.
All seven bills now move to the full House for consideration.
“Abortion is a safe, legal, and sometimes a life-saving medical procedure, and it must be accessible for all who need it,” Shusterman said. “These bills are steps toward removing burdens that pregnant women face when accessing abortion care.”
If enacted, the proposed legislation could significantly alter Pennsylvania’s regulatory landscape surrounding reproductive health. Supporters say the changes would modernize access to care, reduce administrative burdens, and protect patient privacy in an evolving legal environment. Critics are expected to raise concerns about the scope of the bills and their potential to challenge existing state policies.
For residents, the outcome could shape how healthcare providers deliver services and how patients navigate reproductive decisions within the state’s legal framework. The debate is likely to continue as the measures advance to the House floor, reflecting ongoing national divisions over reproductive rights while underscoring Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in shaping access across the mid-Atlantic region.
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