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(CNSNews.com) -- After thousands of pro-life demonstrators flooded the Illinois State Capitol building on March 20 to protest two extreme pro-abortion bills (HB 2467 and HB 2495), the capitol police “made the decision to temporarily restrict entrance to the Capitol Building,” reported the Illinois News Network.

“So we are here today to tell our legislators that if they do not put life and women first in the State of Illinois, they do not have a place in our Statehouse,” said Mary Kate Knorr, executive director of Illinois Right to Life Action, as reported by the Herald & Review.

According to ABC 20 in Springfield, Ill., “At least 3,600 people gathered” in the capitol building, and the Illinois Secretary of State said, “it's been at least four years” since the capitol has reached maximum capacity.

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H.B. 2467, the Parent Notice Abortion-Repeal Act, was introduced on Feb. 13 by Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch (D-7th district). It would repeal the Parental Notice Abortion Act of 1995, which mandates at least one family member must be notified if a minor is to have an abortion

H.B. 2495, the Reproductive Health Act, was introduced by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy (D-14th district). It would enact into law language that states “a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent rights under the law, of this State.”

It also would codify abortion as a “fundamental right.” The bill “[p]rovides that every individual who becomes pregnant has a fundamental right to continue the pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion, and to make autonomous decisions about how to exercise that right.”

Two nearly identical bills were introduced in the Illinois Senate. SB 1594, which was introduced by Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D - 17th district), would also repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995, just like HB 2467.

Also, SB 1942, as introduced by Sen. Melinda Bush (D-31st district), would also provide “that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent rights under the law, of this State,” similar to HB 2495.

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The legislative chairman for Illinois Right to Life Action, Ralph River, said, “I have never seen this many witness slips [to testify] filed on a bill in all my time working as a lobbyist.”

Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has promised to “make Illinois the most progressive state in the nation for access to reproductive health care,” although he has not yet given support to any particular legislation, according to the Herald & Review.

Because of the capitol shutdown, both bills were not heard at their scheduled time and were moved into different committees on March 27.