Republican lawmakers are introducing a bill that would allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control pills.

Under current state law only doctors can prescribe hormonal birth control. Reps. Joel Kitchens and Mary Felzkowski introduced a bill Tuesday that would allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptive patch and birth control pills. Patients would have to fill out a self-assessment questionnaire and undergo a blood pressure screening.

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Kitchens and Felzkowski wrote in a memo seeking co-sponsors that they want to give women more choices for reproductive care and reduce unplanned pregnancies.

They introduced the bill a day before the Assembly was set to debate a package of Republican-authored anti-abortion legislation, including a measure that would eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood. Democrats say the anti-abortion legislation will reduce women's access to health care.