Missouri Lawmaker Proposes Registry for Pregnant Women
Missouri Representative Gerard Harms’s “Save MO Babies Act” proposes creating registries for pregnant individuals deemed “at risk” of abortion and prospective adoptive parents, aiming to facilitate adoptions and reduce abortions. The bill lacks a definition of “at risk,” raising concerns about potential government overreach and privacy violations. This legislation follows broader conservative efforts to expand state surveillance of pregnant individuals and restrict abortion access, mirroring national trends and legal challenges regarding patient data privacy. While Harms claims the program would be voluntary, the bill’s implications for reproductive rights and personal privacy remain significant.
John Q. Hosedrinker