Oklahoma governor signs bill banning nearly all abortions

Oklahoma GOP Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill Tuesday making it illegal to perform an abortion in the state except in the case of medical emergencies.

Those who are caught performing abortions will be fined up to $100,000 and face a decade in prison.

Unless it is blocked in court, the legislation will go into effect over the summer. 

"We want to choose life in Oklahoma," Stitt said as he signed the bill. "We do not want to allow abortions in the state of Oklahoma."

Since the abortion ban in Texas went into effect in September 2021, Planned Parenthood abortion providers in Oklahoma have seen a nearly 2,500% increase in Texas patients. Those patients will now have to seek abortion care elsewhere. 

"The ban signed today is cruel and if it takes effect this summer, will have a devastating impact on people in Oklahoma, neighboring Texans, as well as an entire region facing attacks on their rights to abortion access," said Melissa Fowler of the National Abortion Federation. 

Republican-run states have been passing stricter abortion laws in preparation for a June Supreme Court ruling that could undermine or potentially repeal the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that protects a woman's constitutional right to an abortion.

Similarly, Blue states have been expanding abortion access and working to ensure that however the court rules, abortion will continue to remain available in their states.