The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to introduce a bill that would require Idaho doctors performing abortions to acquire admittance privileges when performing an abortion at a local hospital.
Sen. Lee Heider, R-Twin Falls, sponsored the bill, saying it would better protect a woman in the case of a botched abortion. Additionally, Heider said the same legislation passed in 16 other states.
Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, opposed the bill on the grounds that the legislation fails to differentiate between medical or surgical abortions. Other lawmakers mentioned that securing admitting privileges can be a challenge, and could negatively affect abortion clinics.