Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed a bill into law banning abortions from the stage of "fertilization" and allowing private citizens to sue abortion providers who "knowingly" perform or induce an abortion "on a pregnant woman." A coalition of abortion providers and abortion rights advocates said Wednesday evening they'd challenge the law, which takes effect immediately, in court and try to block it. The law defines "fertilization" as "the fusion of a human spermatozoon with a human ovum." According to the bill, abortion "does not include the use, prescription, administration, procuring, or selling of Plan B, morning-after pills, or any other type of contraception or emergency contraception." Following the signing of the bill into law, Stitt said in a statement, "I promised Oklahomans that as governor I would sign every piece of pro-life legislation that came across my desk and I am proud to keep that promise today."

Source: CNN May 26, 2022 21:35 UTC