As legislative efforts to restrict pregnancy help centers persist across the U.S., a Montana state representative is taking the opposite approach, working to safeguard them.
Montana House Bill 388 protects the free speech rights of such centers by preventing local or state governments from interfering with their work.
Specifically, the bill prohibits governments from requiring such centers to promote or perform abortions, display signage or advertisements related to abortion, or restrict their ability to offer information about abortion pill reversal treatment. It also prevents governments from interfering with the counseling services and hiring decisions of pregnancy help centers.
Pregnancy help centers and medical clinics offer free resources and support to many thousands of women facing unplanned pregnancy and their families across the U.S.
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H.B. 388 passed the Montana House of Representatives in a 57-41 vote last month, advancing it to the Senate, where that chamber’s Judiciary Committee will consider it next. A hearing date has been scheduled for April 2.
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Amy Regier, told Pregnancy Help News the legislation “affirms the constitutional rights of pregnancy centers to function according to their purpose and protect them from any government laws or regulations that would be counter to their purpose.”
“This protection is needed because there have been government efforts to dictate to pregnancy centers,” Regier said, citing the 2018 Supreme Court case, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA v. Becerra, which sided with pregnancy help centers in a challenge to a California law restricting their freedoms.
“In 2023 and 2024, more than 30 measures were introduced in 18 states attacking pregnancy centers,” Regier said. “Pregnancy care centers affirm life and affirm the dignity of women. Life is a human right and worth respecting and protecting.”
Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International, applauded the bill. Heartbeat International is the largest network of pregnancy help organizations in the U.S. and globally.
“Pregnancy centers are good for women and good for Montana,” Godsey told Pregnancy Help News.
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“Pregnancy help centers provide a confidential place for women to make a truly informed decision about their unexpected pregnancy,” Godsey said. “They represent a safe place free from coercive abortion politics and profiteers.”
“All our services are free because of the kind contributions of local Montanans who want to make sure that women have alternatives to abortion,” he added. “Every woman in Montana should be loved and supported in her pregnancy.”
In the United States, there are more pregnancy centers (approximately 3,000) than Planned Parenthood facilities (nearly 600).
Under the text of the Montana bill, pregnancy help centers that believe their rights have been violated can sue. The bill’s legislative findings affirm that pregnancy centers “serve women in Montana and across the United States with integrity and compassion” but have “faced unprecedented attacks” since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade.
“Pregnancy centers provide vital prenatal and postnatal services that many of the clients would not otherwise receive -- no-cost services like pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, STD testing, parenting education, housing, diapers, formula and clothes,” Regier said during the House debate on the bill. “These services are critical positive support for the clients. Almost all of the clients express a positive experience.”
Democrat Rep. Denise Joy opposed the bill, claiming that it places “vulnerable people of lower income and victims of family, partner and sexual violence at greater risk of inappropriate and inaccurate information.”
“These vulnerable pregnant girls and women may not be aware or have time or resources to research these clinics,” Joy said.
Responding to opponents, Regier said the bill does “not provide blanket immunity” for pregnancy help centers.
The bill passed on a strict party-line vote, with Republicans supporting it and Democrats voting against it. No lawmakers broke ranks.
Meanwhile, a bill in neighboring North Dakota that would have placed more restrictions on pregnancy help centers was defeated in the state House last month, 75-16. That bill, H.B. 1595, would have, among other things, required centers that receive state funding to employ licensed healthcare providers.
Editor's note: Heartbeat International manages Pregnancy Help News.
