Odioso, Williams Champion "She Wins" Act
State Representatives Mike Odioso (R-Green Twp.) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) today introduced the “She Wins” Act, legislation that affirms abortion as a health procedure under the Ohio Constitution by requiring it to meet the same informed consent standards applied to all medical care. The provisions outlined in the bill provide important and updated guidance for physicians to follow when a pregnant woman takes steps to seek an abortion, ensuring they have the right to all necessary information before a final decision is made.
The bill requires that a patient’s informed consent be secured a minimum of 24 hours before an abortion is performed or inducted, aligning the procedure with the standard of care set by the medical profession for other procedures. The goal is to ensure that women are fully informed of the physical and psychological risks associated with having an abortion.
The bill also introduces a legal pathway for women to seek recourse if they are denied the information necessary to make a fully informed choice by creating a cause of action against those who fail to meet this standard of care. Additionally, the legislation requires the full disclosure of risks, including those recognized by the broader medical establishment, and grants the State Medical Board the authority to expand these disclosures as science and as procedures evolve.
State Representative Odioso released the following statement:
“The She Wins Act is a necessary and narrowly tailored policy to help women make a more informed choice before undergoing the medical procedure or chemical induction for abortion. The bill’s process for better ensuring informed consent avoids overburdensome regulation by permitting the use of telephone, virtual and email communications. The bill intends to make sure that women are provided the means and minimum time to understand the potential medical complications of abortion. The bill aims to ensure that women are given the opportunity to make the fully informed choice they deserve to protect their physical and mental health.”
State Representative Williams released the following statement:
“When a woman is making one of the most difficult and personal decisions of her life, she deserves the same standard of informed medical care as any other patient undergoing a medical procedure. This legislation ensures that women receive clear, complete information about the potential risks and outcomes of abortions, empowering them to make an informed choice. It also holds providers accountable when they fail to meet their duty of informed consent. I believe this bill strikes the right balance—upholding a woman’s constitutional right to seek treatment while protecting her right to make that decision with full knowledge and clarity.”
State Rep. Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) co-sponsored the legislation and provided the following statement:
“I am thankful for the opportunity to co-sponsor the She Wins Act. In the wake of Ohio voters’ decision to legalize abortion, we have a new responsibility—not to relitigate that outcome—but to ensure that women facing the weight of an unplanned pregnancy are fully informed, fully supported, and never left alone in that decision. The She Wins Act reflects that commitment.”
The legislation will now be assigned a bill number and to a House committee.