Dr. Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said in a written statement in January that “restricting access to mifepristone interferes with the ability of obstetrician–gynecologists and other clinicians to deliver the highest-quality evidence-based care for their patients.”

For one thing, he said the town attorney advised the council that the sample ordinance as written would violate the Montana Constitution’s right to privacy along with case law dealing with abortion.

In response to a question, the lawyer also said an ordinance written to try to comply with Montana law would essentially be meaningless, Clements said.

“This isn’t just about health care and counseling for transgender youth, as critical as that is,” said Sen. Christopher Pope, D-Bozeman. “It’s about health care for 300,000 Montana citizens paid in large part by the federal government in multi-billions of dollars … which is being put at risk by this unconstitutional, and in my opinion, misguided law.”

Zephyr said Regier’s characterization the bill was focused on procedures and not people doesn’t accurately reflect its broad language, including definitions for health care service that span from research to any service performed or provided by a medical practitioner.

“If the proposed rules take effect, they will have an immediate, grave, and irreparable impact on the health of patients in Montana seeking abortion care and their constitutional rights,” the letter said.

The letter warns that “should the rules become effective as proposed, Planned Parenthood of Montana and other providers intend to seek declaratory and injunctive relief against the new laws.”