Ultrasound requirement & additional restrictions on abortions later in pregnancy
House Bill 575
Sponsored by Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway (R - Great Falls)
This bill was passed and signed into law by Gov. Gianforte on May 3, 2023. Though the bill was set to take effect immediately, it now faces a lawsuit and was placed under a Temporary Injunction. HB 575 and its ultrasound requirement will not be enforced while the judge deliberates.
House Bill 575 is yet another one-size-fits-all restriction on individual health care needs. In addition to requiring that abortion patients receive an ultrasound regardless of gestation, this policy would ban abortions at a time during pregnancy when patients and their families face especially difficult circumstances. It poses a serious threat to a pregnant patient’s health — ignoring their unique needs at a really critical time. Health care providers can be charged with a felony just for using their expert medical judgment in caring for patients.
Rep. Sheldon-Galloway’s HB 575 is the kind of legislation that favors politicians’ personal opinions at the expense of medical expertise. Here’s the thing — no one should have to justify their personal medical decisions, but the reality is that abortion late in pregnancy is rare and often happens under complex circumstances. In those situations, patients and their doctors need every medical option available. And what they don’t need is interference from politicians. Period.
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