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Personhood Bills and Ballot Initiatives

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RESOLVE opposes all Personhood initiatives and urges all Americans to VOTE AGAINST any anti-family legislation as it undermines access to safe and reliable infertility medical treatments. Click here to read RESOLVE’s Policy Statement on Personhood legislation, which includes a full explanation of how Personhood legislation and/or Amendments will impact people with infertility.

What is the difference between a Bill and a Ballot Initiative?

A ballot initiative is an attempt to get an issue in front of voters in a state. A Personhood Ballot Initiative would be an attempt to have voters in a state pass a Personhood Amendment or Initiative that would change a state constitution or amend state statutes defining when life begins. Each state has its own process for how any initiative gets on a ballot in November. To date, the states listed here have Personhood ballot initiatives “in process”, meaning proponents of Personhood are following the procedures to get a Personhood Initiative on the ballot this November. Since 2012 is a Presidential election year, voter turnout is typically much higher and issues like Personhood may stand a better chance of passing, depending upon the state. At its core, a ballot initiative is taking a particular issue to the general public and letting them decide. A Personhood bill is a bill introduced in the state legislature, either in the House or Senate or both, and must proceed along a specific process to get a final vote in the full House and Senate. The bill would then need to be signed into law by the Governor. A bill would only be voted on by the elected officials in a state and would not be open to public vote.

Personhood Bills and Ballot Initiatives have been introduced in 13 states. Here is the status of each of these legislative initiatives in each state:

Alabama	Florida	Ohio	Washington
Arkansas	Kansas	Oklahoma	Wisconsin
California	Montana	Oregon
Colorado	Nevada	Virginia

Personhood Ballot Initiatives:

State: Arkansas Ballot Initiative
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Ballot: A so-called "personhood" ballot to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Ballot: RESOLVE opposes this ballot.
Current status of the Ballot in the legislative process
Click here to read the Ballot Initiative Language
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this ballot and would like to become a grassroots advocate.

State: California Ballot Initiative
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Ballot: A so-called "personhood" ballot to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Ballot: RESOLVE opposes this ballot.
Current status of the Ballot in the legislative process
Click here to read the Ballot Initiative Language
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this ballot and would like to become a grassroots advocate.

State: Colorado Ballot Initiative
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Ballot: A so-called "personhood" ballot to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Ballot: RESOLVE opposes this ballot.
Click here to read the Ballot Initiative Language
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this ballot and would like to become a grassroots advocate.

State: Florida Ballot Initiative
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Ballot: A so-called "personhood" ballot to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Ballot: RESOLVE opposes this ballot.
Current status of the Ballot in the legislative process
Click here to read the Ballot Initiative Language
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this ballot and would like to become a grassroots advocate.

State: Montana Ballot Initiative
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Ballot: A so-called "personhood" ballot to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Ballot: RESOLVE opposes this ballot.
Current status of the Ballot in the legislative process
Click here to read the Ballot Initiative Language
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this ballot and would like to become a grassroots advocate.

State: Nevada Ballot Initiative
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Ballot: A so-called "personhood" ballot to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Ballot: RESOLVE opposes this ballot.
Current status of the Ballot in the legislative process
Click here to read the Ballot Initiative Language
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this ballot and would like to become a grassroots advocate.

State: Ohio Ballot Initiative
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Ballot: A so-called "personhood" ballot to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Ballot: RESOLVE opposes this ballot.
Current status of the Ballot in the legislative process
Click here to read the Ballot Initiative Language
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this ballot and would like to become a grassroots advocate.

State: Oregon Ballot Initiative
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Ballot: A so-called "personhood" ballot to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Ballot: RESOLVE opposes this ballot.
Click here to read the Ballot Initiative Language
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this ballot and would like to become a grassroots advocate.

Personhood Bill Initiatives:

State: Alabama Bill Number: SB-5
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Bill: A so-called "personhood" bill to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Bill: RESOLVE opposes this bill.
Current status of the Bill in the legislative process: This bill was just introduced.
Click here to read the full Bill
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this bill, have used IVF to build your family and need IVF, and would be willing to testify at hearings.

State: Kansas Bill Number: HCR5029
Added January 19, 2012

Short Description of Bill: A so-called "personhood" bill to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Bill: RESOLVE opposes this bill.
Current status of the Bill in the legislative process: This bill was just introduced.
Click here to read the full Bill
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this bill, have used IVF to build your family and need IVF, and would be willing to testify at hearings.

State: Kansas Bill Number: HB 2579
Added February 1, 2012

Short Description of Bill: A so-called "personhood" bill to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Bill: RESOLVE opposes this bill.
Detailed Analysis of Bill: This bill declares that life begins at conception and all rights are given to the "unborn child"
Current status of the Bill in the legislative process: This bill has been removed from consideration for this year.
Click here to read the full Bill
Read RESOLVE's Personhood Legislation Policy Statement
Local Volunteer Needs: If you are opposed to this bill, have used IVF or need to use IVF, and can testify or meet with your state legislators, please contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org. Check back as we may launch an alert that will allow you to send letters directly to your state legislators.

State: Oklahoma Bill Number: HJR- 1067
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Bill: A so-called "personhood" bill to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Bill: RESOLVE opposes this bill.
Current status of the Bill in the legislative process: This bill was just introduced.
Click here to read the full Bill
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this bill, have used IVF to build your family and need IVF, and would be willing to testify at hearings.

State: Oklahoma Bill Number: SB 1433
Updated February 7, 2012

Short Description of Bill: A so-called "personhood" bill to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Bill: RESOLVE opposes this bill.
Current status of the Bill in the legislative process: The Senate passed this bill on February 15, 2012.
Click here to read the full Bill
Read RESOLVE's Personhood Legislation Policy Statement
Read Fetal personhood bills a bad idea published in NewsOK.com on March 5, 2011.
Local Volunteer Needs: Please send a letter to every Oklahoma Representative urging them to vote no on SB 1433. This bill has unintended consequences that will make it impossible for IVF to be performed in Oklahoma.

State: Virginia Bill Number: HB-1
Updated February 21, 2012

Short Description of Bill: A so-called "personhood" bill to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Bill: RESOLVE opposes this bill.
Current status of the Bill in the legislative process: The bill was approved by the Virginia House of Delegates on Tuesday, 2/14/12 by a vote of 66 to 32.
Click here to read the full Bill
Read RESOLVE's Personhood Legislation Policy Statement
Read RESOLVE's Talking Points
Read articles about Bill
Read The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Statement
Read The American Society for Reproductive Medicine Statement
Read RESOLVE STATEMENT: HB 1; Section 7 Virginia Personhood Bill
Download RESOLVE's Fact Sheet to Share with your Senator.
Local Volunteer Needs: If you are a Virginia resident, please call your state senator telling them to vote No on HB 1 or send a email letter today. Click here to discover ways to support RESOLVE in its fight to defeat this bill.

State: Washington Bill Number: HB 1656
Added February 1, 2012

Short Description of Bill: A so-called "personhood" bill to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Bill: RESOLVE opposes this bill.
Current status of the Bill in the legislative process: 1/9/12 By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
Click here to read the full Bill
Read RESOLVE's Personhood Legislation Policy Statement
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this bill, have used IVF to build your family and need IVF, and would be willing to testify at hearings.

State: Wisconsin Bill Number: AJR-77
Added January 18, 2012

Short Description of Bill: A so-called "personhood" bill to give legal rights to newly fertilized microscopic embryos (i.e., when life begins).
Does RESOLVE support or oppose this Bill: RESOLVE opposes this bill.
Current status of the Bill in the legislative process: This bill was just introduced.
Click here to read the full Bill:
Local Volunteer Needs: Contact RESOLVE at info@resolve.org if you are opposed to this bill, have used IVF to build your family and need IVF, and would be willing to testify at hearings.