FRANKFORT, Kentucky — House Bill 646 is currently under consideration in the Kentucky House of Representatives, proposing criminal prosecution for transporting drugs used for abortion or assisted suicide into the state.
The bill, sponsored by Representative Nancy Tate, targets abortion pills sent by mail from out of state into Kentucky. Tate argued that the methods of distributing "lethal pharmaceuticals" are changing rapidly, while Kentucky’s enforcement mechanisms have not kept pace.
“If people are misled or make that decision in a moment of desperation, they need to have legal recourse to hold people accountable,” said co-sponsor TJ Roberts, emphasizing that the bill allows for civil lawsuits against the organizations involved.
In addition to criminal penalties, the bill allows individuals to file civil lawsuits if they believe they have been harmed by using these drugs.
Opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), warn that the bill places legal pressure on doctors and limits access to medical care. An ACLU representative argued that treating drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) like street drugs is an overreach that increases legal risks for healthcare providers.
The bill comes as Kentucky continues to debate the enforcement of its near-total abortion ban.
The bill is currently under review and has not yet been passed.
