News Summary

On May 1, 2025, Michigan State Representative Josh Schriver introduced two bills aimed at classifying elective abortions as homicide, known as the ‘justice for babies in the womb act.’ If passed, these laws would equate fetuses with legal persons, subjecting women who receive abortions to potential homicide charges. The legislation faces substantial opposition from Michigan’s Democratic-led Senate. Meanwhile, a separate ruling from Judge Sima Patel invalidated the state’s 24-hour waiting period for abortions, further complicating the state’s ongoing debate over reproductive rights.

Lansing, Michigan — On May 1, 2025, Michigan State Representative Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) proposed two controversial pieces of legislation aimed at classifying elective abortions as homicide. The proposed bills, known as House Bills 4670 and 4671, are collectively titled the “justice for babies in the womb act.” If passed, these bills would redefine the legal definitions of assault, assault and battery, and homicide to include “an unborn child” as a victim, equating fetuses and fertilized embryos with born individuals in legal terms.

The implications of these proposed changes are significant. If the legislation is enacted, women who receive abortions could face homicide charges. The bills have already been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration, but they are anticipated to encounter substantial opposition in Michigan’s Democratic-led Senate.

The bills have garnered support from anti-abortion advocates, who argue that abortion equates to murder. Prominent figures in the movement, such as Abby Johnson, have publicly backed the initiative. Conversely, they do contain provisions that exempt unintentional deaths of a fetus during life-saving procedures for the mother, provided efforts are made to save the unborn child.

Bradley Pierce, president of the Foundation to Abolish Abortion, expressed approval of the bills, labeling them as “righteous legislation.” The proposed changes are reflective of a broader national trend towards similar legislative moves in states such as Georgia, Indiana, North Dakota, and Texas, indicating a growing push among certain lawmakers to redefine abortion in legal contexts.

In a separate but related development, a ruling on May 13, 2025, by Michigan Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel struck down the state’s 24-hour waiting period and informed consent laws pertaining to abortion. Judge Patel determined these restrictions to be unconstitutional, aligning with voters’ rights established under Proposal 3 in 2022, which guarantees a fundamental right to reproductive freedom.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer welcomed this ruling, viewing it as a protection for women’s medical decision-making free from political interference. The invalidated regulations had required abortion providers to present potentially misleading information and imposed restrictions that limited advanced practice clinicians (APCs) from performing abortions.

Right to Life of Michigan criticized Judge Patel’s ruling, deeming it harmful to women’s health and indicative of a significant shift in Michigan’s approach to abortion rights. The context surrounding these legal battles highlights the ongoing conflict regarding reproductive rights in the state, revealing a deeply divided political and social landscape.

The recent actions by Schriver and the proposed legislation appear to be an attempt to challenge and alter the legal context of abortion in Michigan, particularly following the voter-approved amendments supporting reproductive rights in 2022. As the House Judiciary Committee evaluates the bills, the outcome remains uncertain, with anticipated strong pushback expected from groups opposed to any rollback of reproductive liberties.

As legislators continue to address and debate the complexities surrounding abortion rights, these developments indicate that Michigan remains at the forefront of an ongoing national dialogue that influences public health and legal standards regarding reproductive issues.