OLYMPIA, Wash. — State Democrats are bringing forth multiple bills on Tuesday, all related to protecting abortion rights.
The discussions come only a few days after the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
There are five bills being discussed by Senate committees and a few more by House committees as well.
Essentially it would mean that anyone who wants an abortion cannot be required to make a co-payment or meet their deductible to have their services covered.
Of the bills being discussed in Senate committees on Tuesday is SB 5242, which seeks to ease the burden of out-of-pocket costs by eliminating cost-sharing for patients seeking abortion care.
HB 1469/SB 5489 concern access to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming treatment in Washington.
SRJ 8202 would amend the state constitution to protect reproductive freedoms, including the right to have an abortion.
On the other side of the aisle, some argue the bills could go too far.
Last year during the October election campaigns, state Republicans criticized Democrats for being “radical and too extreme” in their abortion stances.
Democratic Sen. Karen Keiser says the state’s abortion laws are at risk after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision and that’s why they are fighting for reproductive freedoms.