State Rep. Stacey Newman

While a House committee of the Missouri legislature debated SJR 39, the “religious freedom” bill, on Tuesday, another committee approved a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would declare a right to life for unborn children “at every stage of biological development.”

House Joint Resolution 98, was also amended Tuesday to remove exemptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.

State Rep. Stacey Newman said during the committee hearing that the proposal “would be placing many women in danger.” She also labeled the bill as “extreme.”

State Rep. Rick Brattin (R–Harrisonville) said, “All life is life, regardless of how it was conceived.”

State Rep. Rick Brattin

The 8-3 vote fell along partisan lines, with Republicans Diane Franklin, Jim Neely, Nathan Beard, Cloria Brown, Elaine Gannon, Marsha Haefner, and Jeanie Lauer joining with Brattin. Brown and Haefner represent respective parts of south St. Louis County. Democrats Newman, Sue Meredith of St. Louis County, and Charlie Norr were opposed.

While the bill is not expected to be voted on during the final month of the legislative session, other states have tried or succeeded in placing similar measures on respective ballots. In 2012, Oklahoma passed a “personhood” bill, but the proposed ballot measure was struck down by the state Supreme Court. The court ruled it “clearly unconstitutional” because it would block a woman’s legal right to have an abortion. Also in 2012, the Virginia legislature’s House passed a “personhood” bill; its Senate effectively stopped the proposal by referring back to committee by a 24–14 vote, and the measure has not resurfaced in that state. In November 2014, voters in Colorado and North Dakota defeated “personhood” ballot measures by wide margins.