A set of extreme abortion bills in Pennsylvania could make the Keystone State one of the most radical pro-abortion states in the country if legislators carry them through both chambers.
The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee voted October 22 to advance seven bills that protect, grow, and subsidize the abortion industry. The bills passed in a 14 to 12 vote, with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans against and all seven aim to thwart anyone who would disrupt the pro-abortion agenda.
All 14 Democrat legislators on the Judiciary Committee are endorsed by and have received funds from Planned Parenthood's Political Action Committee.
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These bills include bumping the legal gestation limit of an abortion from 24 weeks to full-term as well as amendments that “shield” abortion providers from criminalization.
House Bill 670 is one that will impact the pregnancy help movement directly because the wording could be exploited to target pregnancy help.
Beginning in line 14 the bill states:
“An individual may not, by force, threat of force or violent or non-violent physical obstruction, knowingly injure, intimidate or interfere with a person because the person is a reproductive health client, provider or assistant, or to cause the person or a class of persons to not become or not remain a reproductive health services client, provider or assistant.”
The Pennsylvania Pregnancy Wellness Collaborative (PPWC) responded swiftly to this proposed bill by emailing the Judiciary Committee stating its opposition and calling the bill dangerous. The PPWC was formed in 2023 as an effort by pregnancy centers in the state to push back against vandalism and other attacks from the Left.
Noting the vague terms “intimidate” or interfere” in the bill, the PPWC told the Judiciary Committee, “These undefined and subjective terms could include peaceful actions like praying, offering literature, or talking with women outside clinics — all constitutionally protected forms of speech and expression.”
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Jon Merwarth is Chief Executive Officer of Bright Hope Pregnancy Support Centers and a board member of the PPWC.
Merwarth remarked that all the bills are detrimental to the pro-life movement in Pennsylvania, but Bill 670 “poses the most harm.”
If an abortion-minded client has appointments scheduled at both an abortion facility and a pregnancy center and decides not to pursue the abortion resulting from the pregnancy center visit, the center could be in violation of the law, Merwarth said. If the client would cancel her abortion appointment and state a pregnancy center helped her to make a different decision, the abortion center could then report the pregnancy center from taking away a “reproductive health services client.” The penalty could be a $3,000 fine and/or one year in prison. Another possibility is if a fake client were to exploit this process and report the center.
“The most tangible complaint comes from the client who calls (and reports the center),” Merwarth said.
This battle has been ongoing in Pennsylvania. In 2023, the pregnancy support service that funded more than 80 centers in the state, Real Alternatives, was cut by Governor Josh Shapiro.
Shortly after this cut, former Attorney General Michelle Henry added the ““Report Reproductive Health Deceptive Activity” to her state website where clients could report pregnancy centers prompting investigation by the attorney general’s office. Republican AG Dave Sunday, who succeeded Henry in November 2024, took the page down.
This impending danger in Bill 670 may cause some centers to shrink away from the efforts to talk to abortion-minded women, Merwarth said, and also may result in volunteers refusing to assist for fear of imprisonment and fine.
Merwarth’s center’s a mobile unit could also be in danger should it park in proximity to an abortion center.
“They could be seen as obstructing,” he said.
Sidewalk advocates and other ministries who choose to pray outside of an abortion site could also be jailed and fined. The bill also says that if anyone decides to cease working in an abortion setting due to speaking with someone from any of these entities it is also an issue.
The PPWC message to the Judiciary Committee said Bill 670 is unconstitutional: “This violates both the First Amendment and Article I, Section 7 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which safeguard free speech and peaceful assembly.”
House Bill 2005 removes the state’s informed consent law which requires counsel for abortion alternatives and a 24-hour waiting period to make an abortion decision.
Further bills are shield laws, which protect abortion providers. Legislators want to protect providers despite the fact this is the state from where the most horrific abortionist - Kermit Gosnell - did business. These “shields” for abortionists include keeping state courts from interfering with cases out of state with in-state abortion providers. Providers would also be protected with liability insurance when serving women who travel to Pennsylvania for an abortion because the procedure is illegal in their home state.
House Bill 1957 would make abortion legal up until birth and remove parental consent as well as make abortion taxpayer funded.
Merwarth said Pennsylvania is following suit with extremist states like Colorado and New Jersey with few boundaries in abortion regulation.
These bills will likely get a chance at the House floor any time before early 2026, Merwarth estimated. Currently there is a close majority in the Pennsylvania House with 102 Democrats to 101 Republicans. The state senate currently has a Republican majority. Many legislators' seats are up for election in 2026, he noted, so this effort could succeed or fail depending on how the public reacts.
“That’s why we have to apply as much pressure as possible,” Merwarth said.
Following this 2025 November election, Allegheny Reproductive Health Center v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services will be heard by the Commonwealth Court. This is Planned Parenthood’s effort to make taxpayers fund elective abortions.
When Pennsylvania voters vote the day prior, they will have the question on their ballots whether to retain three Planned Parenthood-endorsed Supreme Court justices.
Now is the time to speak up, Merwarth said.
“The other side is not used to a show of force from us,” Merwarth said.
Merwarth encouraged Pennsylvanians to reach out to their legislators and ask them to stand up for life and for pregnancy centers.
PA Family has provided a link for Pennsylvania residents to reach their legislators.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the Judiciary Committee responsible for advancing the bills.
