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Reproductive Rights Explainers
Kentucky’s HB 90 Veto is A Win for Reproductive Freedom
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Abortion advocates asked Gov. Beshear to veto HB 90—a danger to pregnant Kentuckians—and he delivered.
⌛️ TL; DR (too long, didn’t read)
Abortion is nearly entirely banned in Kentucky, with no exceptions for rape or incest, and only a narrow, vague exception to prevent the death or permanent impairment of the pregnant person. Doctors risk felony charges for providing care outside those limits.
Last week, lawmakers passed HB 90—a bill claiming to “clarify” those rules, but in reality, it added confusion, stigmatizing language, and more barriers to care.
Thankfully, Kentucky Governor Beshear vetoed the bill after strong opposition from reproductive rights advocates and medical professionals. Reproductive Freedom for All supports the veto and urges lawmakers not to override it.
If you live in Kentucky, join us in sending the Governor a message thanking him for vetoing this anti-abortion bill:
🔎 What’s Kentucky’s HB 90 Bill?
Originally a bill about freestanding birth centers, HB 90 was quietly amended at the last minute to add vague and restrictive “clarifications” to Kentucky’s near-total abortion ban.
The bill would have allowed doctors to provide care in certain emergencies—like ectopic pregnancy or sepsis—but only under rigid, politically defined conditions.
Antiabortion extremists will often try to weave non-medical language and falsehoods into policy—it’s part of their playbook—and HB 90 was no different. Doing so further stigmatizes essential care, paves the way for further criminalizing abortion, and threatens IVF and common forms of birth control.
Notably, HB 90 did not add exceptions for survivors of rape or incest, and it kept felony penalties in place for doctors.
🛩️ The Big Picture: “Gaps in the law are literally a matter of life and death.”
This bill wasn’t about saving lives—it was about saving face. After public backlash (8 in 10 Americans support the legal right to abortion), anti-abortion Kentucky lawmakers are trying to make cruel bans appear less restrictive by adding narrow exceptions that don’t work in practice.
Gov. Beshear won re-election in no small part due to Kentuckians’ views on abortion and because of advocates like Hadley Duvall—which is why Kentuckians deserve better than anti-abortion extremists playing political games with their lives and bodies in an attempt to appear more “moderate.”
Doctors across the country—including in Kentucky—have made it clear: laws like HB 90 make it harder, not easier, to provide care. These so-called clarifications force doctors to delay treatment, consult lawyers in the middle of medical emergencies, or avoid care altogether out of fear of prosecution.
“Although supporters of House Bill 90 claim it protects pregnant women and clarifies abortion law in Kentucky, it actually does the opposite,” wrote Gov. Beshear wrote in his veto letter. “Gaps in the law are literally a matter of life and death.”
⚠️ The Stakes: Bans Put Pregnant People in Danger
Every single ban stops people from being in control of their bodies and accessing the care they need, and makes it more difficult for providers to navigate the legality of simply doing their jobs.
We’ve already seen the consequences of these laws in other states—people like Joselli Barnica, Amber Nicole Thurman, Porsha Ngumezi, Candi Miller, and Nevaeh Crain died or suffered because care was delayed.
- HB 90 would have kept Kentucky’s abortion ban intact, while pretending to “soften” it.
- Patients in medical crisis could still be denied care.
- Doctors would face criminal charges for trying to do their jobs.
- The bill sets the stage for future attacks on IVF, contraception, and more.
📢 Here’s What We’re Fighting For
“Democratic governors in red and blue states continue to take action against Republican state legislatures trying to jam through attacks on abortion access,” says Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju. “We thank Governor Beshear for his leadership as we continue to work together in the fight to protect our fundamental freedoms.”
Kentuckians deserve better than political games and anti-abortion tricks. They deserve real care, real clarity, and real reproductive freedom.
There’s still a risk that Kentucky’s GOP majority could force HB 90 into law. Will you join us in the fight for reproductive freedom?
💡Resources for Abortion Care
No one should have to risk their life to get medical care. If you live in a state with an abortion ban, you’re not alone, and there are resources to help.
- Get abortion care: Explore Abortion Finder, Abortion on our Terms, Plan C, M+A Hotline for abortion care resources—or chat with Charley the Chatbot (right here on this webpage).
- Know your rights: Even in banned states, some exceptions may apply. Learn about your state’s laws through the Repro Legal Helpline.
- Find abortion funds & support: Groups like the National Network of Abortion Funds and ineedana.com can help you access financial resources.
- Get emergency legal help: If you or someone you know is being denied emergency medical care, reach out to Abortion Defense Network.
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Reproductive Freedom for All is made up of members across the country who believe that everybody should be free to control their own bodies and lives—and we want you to be a part of it. Subscribe to be one of the first to receive updates on the state of reproductive freedom and opportunities to take action.