Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
105.9 FM is currently experiencing a degraded signal due to deteriorated antenna connections. We are working to schedule repairs. You can still tune in to WBAA News on AM 920, online at wbaa.org or through the WBAA mobile app. Thank you for your patience.

Expanded Feticide Bill Heads To Governor's Desk

Brandon Smith
/
IPB News

Legislation headed to the governor would allow prosecutors to seek a murder charge against someone who attacks a woman and causes the death of her fetus.

Current law allows such charges if the fetus is viable. The legislation eliminates the need for viability.

READ MORE: Senate Committee Approves Bill To Expand Feticide Law

And that change in law has some anti-abortion groups cheering. They argue the measure gives legal standing to unborn fetuses that hasn’t existed before, which could be used to better defend anti-abortion laws.

Sen. Aaron Freeman (R-Indianapolis) notes his bill is explicit about what it does and doesn’t do.

“This bill has nothing to do with two things. One is a woman’s legal right to an abortion," Freeman says. "And two, it does not have anything to do with a woman who would terminate her own pregnancy.”

The Senate gave final approval to the bill 41-8.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.