Missouri House advances anti-abortion amendment, budget cuts

A proposed constitutional amendment in Missouri aims to ban nearly all abortions, allowing only limited exceptions for medical emergencies, rape, and incest before 12 weeks of gestation. This amendment seeks to repeal a previous abortion-rights measure approved by voters in November 2024 that allowed abortions up to fetal viability. The ballot language, however, has been criticized for being misleading, as it does not directly mention a ban on most abortions but instead uses terms like 'guarantee access to care for medical emergencies.' The Missouri House passed a related bill, the 'Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Act,' requiring medical professionals to provide care for infants born alive after attempted abortions. These legislative efforts come in light of the state's recent history of stringent abortion laws, including a ban implemented after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. If approved, the amendment could be presented to voters as soon as this year or during the 2026 midterm elections.