Lawmakers react to Louisiana House criminalizing abortion pills

Hours after the Louisiana House voted Tuesday to criminalize possession of over-the-counter mifepristone and misoprostol, lawmakers reacted to the vote, with some expressing anger and others celebrating the legislation.

The unprecedented legislation marks the first time a state has declared abortion drugs controlled substances. The two drugs are used to induce a medical abortion.

The state House passed the bill 64-29, and it now heads back to the state Senate for a competitive vote. It will then head to the office of Gov. Jeff Landry (R), who is expected to sign it.

Vice President Harris posted on social media platform X, responding to the vote, saying it was “absolutely unacceptable.”

“The Louisiana House just passed a bill that would criminalize the possession of medication abortions, with penalties of up to several years in prison,” she wrote. “Let’s be clear: Donald Trump did this.”

State Sen. Thomas Pressly (R), who sponsored the bill, posted a response to Harris’ comment, saying it was unacceptable for her to lie about his legislation, which began after his sister received the drug without to know.

“Leaving aside the part about ‘not having a valid prescription’ and our efforts to protect expectant mothers from being given abortion drugs by evil husbands, this is a big omission. Get better,” Pressly posted.

Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ) said he was “disgusted” by the vote. He said he has introduced legislation that seeks to protect mifepristone and women’s right to choose “across the country, just like we do here in NJ.”

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) also released a statement following the vote admonishing Republicans who passed it.

“If Louisiana succeeds in passing this dangerous bill, other Republican-led states will follow. The only way to stop this onslaught of Republican attacks in Louisiana and across the country is to make a concerted effort to build Democratic power in state legislatures,” DLCC National Press Secretary Sam Paisley said in a statement .

Anti-abortion groups celebrated the vote. The group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America released a statement saying the legislation should not be controversial.

“Like morphine and Valium, the drugs in question will still be available by prescription for legitimate medical reasons – such as miscarriage care – but will be harder for abusers to obtain,” said the regional director of the group, Caitlin Connors, in the statement.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) said in a thread on X that she supports the legislation because drugs are increasingly being shipped from outside of Louisiana.

The group Louisiana Right to Life posted online that it was proud of the state Legislature for its support of the bill and “advocacy for the health and safety of women and girls.”

Surgical and medical abortion is already prohibited in Louisiana, unless it would save a patient’s life or if the pregnancy is “medically unnecessary.” Abortion pills are illegal to receive by mail in the state, but laws in other states allow doctors to continue to prescribe and ship the medication through an online telehealth option.

The amendment makes it an offense for anyone who does not have a prescription or is an authorized provider to possess the drugs. People face up to five years in prison.

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