From Hawai'i Family Advocates 

Hawaii Family Advocates Weekly Legislative Update

February 4, 2016

Supreme Court Hears Abortion Case

On Wednesday, March 2, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Whole Women's Health v. Hellerstedt.  To put it simply, this may be the most important abortion case to appear before the Supreme Court since 1992's landmark Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision. At issue is Texas law HB-2, a common-sense measure that requires two things from clinics that perform abortions.

• First, that they comply with all of the same health and safety regulations that other ambulatory surgical centers live under.
• Second, that any doctors performing abortions have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinic.  Several Texas clinics were unable to comply with these requirements, and filed suit to challenge the law's constitutionality. (Read SCOTUS blog)

Senate to Vote on Minor Therapy Bill

The Senate has scheduled a full Senate vote on the minor therapy bill that prohibits persons licensed to provide professional counseling from engaging in, attempting to engage in, or advertising sexual orientation change efforts on persons under eighteen years of age. Now is the time to CONTACT YOUR SENATOR and ask him/her to vote NO on SB 2615. 

Send a message to your Senator!  |  Sign our online petition!

The full Senate will vote on the measure on March 8, 2016.

Two States are Working to Protect Religious Freedom

With state legislatures entering the busiest time of their legislative calendar, a number of states are considering Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRA) that would protect citizens’ fundamental rights from unreasonable and unnecessary government coercion. West Virginia and Georgia are among the states that have introduced state-level versions of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, which prohibit substantial government burdens on religious exercise unless the government can show a compelling interest in burdening religious liberty and does so through the least restrictive means.

Read more from the Daily Signal.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please make sure you are registered to vote and then vote in your respective caucus. 

Republican Caucus: Tuesday, March 8th, 2016  |  Democratic Caucus: Saturday, March 26th, 2016