Bill increases wait time for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours

A bill that would increase the triple the time a woman must wait before getting an abortion passed through the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, but not without heavy debate.
Louisiana law currently requires a 24-hour waiting period in between the initial pre-abortion consultation and the performance of the actual abortion. House Bill 386, by Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, increases that time to 72 hours under the premise that it would give women more time to consider their options.
“This bill empowers women considering abortion with additional time…in which they can consider their options more effectively,” Hoffmann said.
Among those opposing the measure was Amy Irvin, executive director of the New Orleans Abortion Fund, who argued that increasing the mandatory waiting period inflicts a substantial burden on those seeking an abortion.
“Compelling women to delay their abortion care another two days will do nothing to change their minds, but instead create logistical and financial challenges,” Irvin said.
Irvin explained that numerous factors such as travel expenses and transportation make the 72-hour period unreasonable. She also said forcing a woman to wait three days before getting an abortion after they’ve already made their decision is condescending.
Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, argued Louisiana residents already have to wait 72 hours to officially buy a house and get married, so why shouldn’t women have to wait the same amount of time to receive an abortion.
But Sen. Troy Brown, D-Napoleonville, said this argument does not make sense because there are multiple ways to buy a house. Sen. Yvonne Colomb, D-Baton Rouge, agreed that having abortion is a personal, not civil, decision, and is one of the “heart and soul.”
“This (bill) is just another way for government to tell women what to do with their bodies,” Colomb said.
After a nearly two-hour debate, the committee decided the 72-hour period was not unreasonable and voted accordingly.
“At the end of the day, this bill does not stop women from getting an abortion,” Barrow said.