Rep. Brownlee: HB 347 Undermines Healthcare, Ignores Ohio Voters, & Increases Costs for Families

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Karen Brownlee (D-Symmes Twp) today issued the following statement on House Bill (HB) 347, legislation requiring a 24-hours waiting period for patients accessing reproductive care:

“In a time when U.S. birthrates are plummeting, expanding and supporting evidence-based reproductive Healthcare should be a top priority in our state,” said Rep. Brownlee. “In a General Assembly that states it supports personal freedoms, parents also deserve to have politicians out of their reproductive decisions.”

HB 347 threatens healthcare access by requiring doctors to provide information that is not supported by credible medical science, including unproven claims about reversing medication abortion. It also imposes unnecessary waiting periods and extra appointments, creating real financial and logistical burdens for families, including lost wages, childcare, transportation, and additional medical costs. These delays not only complicate care but can also increase health risks for patients.

House Democrats attempted to introduce an amendment on the House floor to make IVF/assistive reproductive treatments affordable for Ohioans by making it covered by insurance. House Republicans voted it down 64-29.

Beyond healthcare, HB 347 directly conflicts with the will of Ohio voters. The Reproductive Freedom Amendment, passed in 2023, guarantees that the state cannot burden, penalize, or interfere with reproductive healthcare decisions. This legislation attempts to bypass those protections by imposing new barriers and requirements that are redundant, unnecessary, and unconstitutional.

Instead of addressing Ohio’s affordability crisis, HB 347 diverts taxpayer resources to enforce medically inaccurate state mandates and creates unnecessary obstacles for patients and doctors. Each delay adds financial and logistical strain on families who are already struggling to make ends meet.

House Democrats remain committed to protecting reproductive rights, ensuring patients receive accurate medical information, and advancing policies that make healthcare accessible and affordable. Ohioans should not face unnecessary barriers to care or additional financial burdens-policymakers must focus on protecting health, respecting choices, and making everyday life more affordable.