Rep. Kick Applauds Health Committee's Passage of the "Heartbeat Bill"

State Representative Darrell Kick (R-Loudonville) today announced that the Ohio House Health Committee, on which he serves, has passed House Bill 258, otherwise known as the “Heartbeat Bill.” The pro-life measure aims to protect the lives of Ohio babies beginning with their first detectable heartbeat.

House Bill 258, sponsored by Representatives Christina Hagan (R-Alliance) and Ron Hood (R-Ashville), would generally prohibit a person from knowingly and purposefully performing or inducing an abortion with the specific intent of causing the termination of life of an unborn child whose fetal heartbeat has been detected, making this offense a fifth degree felony.

“I always knew once I became a legislator these types of issues would come up. I am thrilled to be in a position to defend life,” said Rep. Kick.                                                         

The bill legally protects babies with detectable heartbeats unless the life or physical health of the mother is in jeopardy. A child’s heartbeat can usually be detected at about 6 weeks into a pregnancy.

House Bill 258 would also create the Joint Legislative Committee on Adoption Promotion and Support, composed of three House and three Senate members, which would encourage adoption in the cases of unwanted pregnancies.

The Heartbeat Bill awaits consideration for a vote by the full House.