HB 1211 Summary

• Requires physicians to provide pregnant women with comprehensive informed consent at least 24 hours before abortion, including written disclosure of abortion method, medical risks, gestational age, fetal development characteristics, and alternatives to abortion.

• Mandates that women be offered opportunity to view active ultrasound and hear fetal heartbeat if audible, with access to free ultrasound providers if desired.

• Requires presentation of state-provided materials describing fetal development at two-week gestational increments, abortion methods and risks, pain to the unborn child at 22+ weeks gestation, paternal support obligations, and available support services for carrying pregnancy to term.

• Creates new crime of "coercing an abortion" with penalties ranging from class A misdemeanor to class A felony depending on underlying offense, and requires healthcare providers to report suspected coerced abortions to appropriate authorities.

• Restricts abortion performance to licensed physicians only and increases medical records retention requirement from 7 to 10 years.