Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a pro-life bill into law Wednesday that protects unborn babies by ending abortion facility licenses throughout the state.
Aborting unborn babies is still legal in Utah due to a court order blocking its abortion ban, but the new law effectively could ban elective abortions while that lawsuit continues.
This week, Cox, a pro-life Republican, signed the pro-life law, along with dozens of others, after the state legislature passed it by an overwhelming majority earlier this month.
Sponsored by state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, House Bill 467 prohibits abortion facilities from operating in Utah starting in 2024 and prohibits state authorities from granting licenses to abortion facilities after May 2. However, it also requires abortions that are allowed under the law to be performed in hospitals, basically making current abortion facilities’ licenses meaningless.