Kaitlin L Lange

kaitlin.lange@courierpress.com

After fulfilling its duty to pass a $31.7 billion state budget, the Republican-dominated Indiana House turned its attention Monday to hot-button social issues — something it has focused little attention on for much of the first half of this year's legislative session.

The chamber passed a controversial bill requiring abortion providers to tell patients about a possible abortion reversal procedure and another measure focused on school prayer. Both measures now head to the Senate for further consideration.

The process to reverse a chemically induced abortion is supported by some anecdotal evidence but hasn't been scientifically proven to work. Those opposing the bill, including women who called themselves pro-life, worried about providing women with conflicting information.

"There is not sufficient evidence that this method can reverse the damage of a drug-induced abortion, while keeping both the unborn baby and mother safe," said Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer, R-Beech Grove. "To mandate providers to give information on this reversal process, regardless of if they support or refute the outcome, is irresponsible and far reaching."

A medical abortion requires patients to take two different medicines over the course of a few days. In order to reverse the effects, advocates of the bill say patients need to be given a high level of progesterone after the first of the two abortion medicines is taken.

Information required to be given to women about the abortion reversal procedure would say where patients can get the reversal, as well as a disclaimer that the method is not scientifically proven.

"We’re just saying you have the right to try," said Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn. "We’re not saying it’s going to work."

Except for a few men, the debate on the House floor was mostly dominated by female lawmakers. The final vote was 53-41, with six out of the 21 women present supporting the measure.

Lawmakers had struggled to get the bill out of committee last week. The House Public Policy Committee voted 7-6 for House Bill 1128, but House Speaker Brian Bosma sent the bill back to committee, citing several issues.

A main concern was that the bill initially required abortion providers to use an ultrasound to determine the age of the fetus. That requirement was removed from the legislation once it returned to committee.

The committee then passed the legislation for a second time by the same narrow vote, before the full House approved it.

Support for the school prayer measure was more substantial. Lawmakers voted 83-12 for the bill, which supporters say will provide an additional layer of religious freedom protection for school children. House Bill 1024 prohibits discrimination against children or their parents for their religious beliefs.

House Education Committee Chairman Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, acknowledged that students already are allowed freedom of religion in schools under the First Amendment and various court cases. However, he said the bill provides important clarity and codifies what "freedom of religion" means in schools.

Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, opposed the bill, saying it could result in entanglement between government and religion.

"You can already pray in school," DeLaney said. "... But what we’re trying to do is fool with that, adjust that, make it a little stronger. And we’ll end up in the courts."

At the beginning of the legislative session, leading lawmakers did not include social issues in their list of priorities for the session, aside from a focus on fighting the opioid epidemic.

But in the last days that bills can be voted on in their chambers of origin, both the House and Senate considered more abortion restrictions along with other social issues. The Senate will have the opportunity to vote Tuesday on a proposal that would give parents the right to testify in court on whether their children should be allowed to have an abortion.

RELATED: Senate passes bill granting parents more rights in daughter's abortion

Speaker Bosma said Indiana is largely an anti-abortion state and consequently such issues can't be avoided.

"Feelings are going to run strong for those who believe a woman has the right to choose and those who believe the baby has constitutional rights and should be protected," Bosma said. "So for those who say let's just take a break on social issues, our society is not going to take a break on those social issues. So this conflict will be reflected in elected representative chambers all around the country as it is reflective of the populace."

Here's a look at other action taken Monday by the Indiana General Assembly as it worked against deadlines to pass bills out of their chamber of origin.

The House:

Voted 66-25 to allow large animal farms to expand without a permit.

Approved a state budget that increases the cigarette tax by $1.

The Senate:

Failed to act on a measure that would enhance penalties for hate crimes, meaning it is likely dead for the session. Indiana is one of only five states without a hate crime-related law.

Voted 39-9 to limit the amount of money paid to those who sell back solar energy to the grid. It grandfathers in those who already have solar panels.

Read more:

Abortion bill targets parents' rights in cases of pregnant minors

Lawmakers pass legislation to change unconstitutional e-liquid bill

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