Roe vs. Wade and Wyoming’s abortion trigger bill

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - With the Supreme Court opinion leak, many people wonder how this will affect them and Wyoming.

Thirteen states now have trigger bills that will go into effect if Roe versus Wade is overturned. This action would revert access to abortions back to each state.

During Wyoming’s latest Legislative Session, a ”trigger” bill was introduced that would ban abortions in the state.

We spoke to the Wyoming House Representative that sponsored the bill and an ACLU representative for Wyoming.

House Representative and Pro-Life Advocate Rachel Rodriguez-Williams sponsored Wyoming’s trigger bill, House Bill 92.

It passed in the 2022 Wyoming Legislative Budget session and would go into effect, once confirmed, five days after Roe versus Wade is overturned.

This “law in waiting” effectively bans all abortions and chemical abortions within the state of Wyoming, except for cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother’s life.

“It’s an opportunity for families to thrive. It’s an opportunity for women to work with life-affirming centers, to work with resources in their community, to help remove barriers so that they can carry to term,” said Rodriguez-Williams.

Wyoming ACLU representative Janna Farley says this reversal would be government over-reach and denial of constitutional autonomy.

“The Supreme Court is ready to take away our ability of if and when to have a child. Millions of people around the country will be forced to remain pregnant against their will,” said Farley. “Our government is dictating our health-care decisions instead of that decision being made privately between themselves, their families and their doctor.”

Rodriguez disagrees.

“Essentially what the court is signaling the states is that abortion is not health-care,” said Rodriguez-Williams.

According to Rodriguez, abortion discriminantly affects minorities and the poor disproportionately.

Rodriguez says several public resources could help women overcome barriers to carrying to term and after.

These are necessary according to Rodriguez since the Wyoming Department of Health Vital Statistics Services showed that 91 abortions were performed in 2021.

“Babies have the right to life and the pursuit of happiness...Article 1 section 2 of the Wyoming Constitution again guarantees the inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that all members of the human are equal,” said Rodriguez.

Farley believes protecting the constitutional rights of women matters too.

“Over-turning Roe vs. Wade would be an unprecedented action. The Supreme Court has never deprived half the country of a constitutional right. The court has on occasion overturned precedence in the past, but virtually always to expand protection rights, not take them away,” said Farley.

The Supreme Court leak is still speculation, and the high court has made no final decision.

Marches and rallies are currently being organized this Mother’s day weekend.

Both sides of the political spectrum remind Wyomingites that the clearest way to voice your concerns is at the ballot box in November.

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