Neb. Bill Would Require Abortion Providers' Websites To Link to Ultrasound Videos

January 22, 2013 — A Nebraska lawmaker on Thursday introduced legislation (LB 300) that would require abortion providers' websites to include a link to a state website showing ultrasound videos of fetuses, the Omaha World-Herald reports (Omaha World-Herald, 1/18).

Under the bill -- proposed by Sen. Bob Krist -- the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services would post videos showing fetuses at various gestational ages. The videos would be provided by the not-for-profit Endowment for Human Development. The bill also would require the state website to offer information about alternatives to abortion and a list of clinics that offer no-cost ultrasounds.

Julie Schmit-Albin -- executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, which helped draft the bill -- said the legislation will improve access to abortion information by providing it online.

Jill June, president of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, in a statement said providers at Planned Parenthood clinics discuss patients' options with them. "The bottom line is that a woman should be able to make informed decisions about her own pregnancy without biased government intrusion," June said (Skelton, AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/17).