A package of six bills set to be voted on Wednesday by the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee could drastically expand abortion access in the state, potentially allowing for abortions up to birth and making Pennsylvania a destination for women seeking abortions from states with stricter pro-life laws.

Currently, Pennsylvania bans abortion after 24 weeks (six months), with exceptions only when the pregnancy poses a serious health risk or threatens the mother's life. However, the new legislation, primarily HB 1957, seeks to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to make abortion a state constitutional right. If passed, HB 1957 would trigger a statewide ballot vote, a long process that begins with approval in committee and moves to the House. Given the Democrats’ slim majority in the House (102-101), the amendment and the broader package could pass this initial step.

While the Republican-led Senate is less likely to approve the amendment, if it does, the process would require another vote in the next legislative session before it could go to the ballot for voter approval. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a staunch advocate of abortion rights, would not directly be involved in this process but is expected to support the package.

Critics, such as Maria Gallagher of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, argue that the bills could lead to significant harms for both women and babies. “These bills would do everything from establishing taxpayer-funded abortions to allowing late-term abortions, eliminating the 24-hour waiting period and counseling requirements,” Gallagher told The Federalist. "What that would mean is that women would not be told the risks of abortion or alternatives before the procedure takes place."

The bills could also revive the dark legacy of the Kermit Gosnell era, referencing the notorious abortionist who killed babies born alive at his Philadelphia clinic. These new measures would reportedly provide legal protections for abortionists and eliminate the safeguards that were once put in place to prevent such horrors.

The Judiciary Committee will review HB 1957 at 10 a.m. Wednesday, followed by a vote on the full package at 11 a.m. Other bills under consideration include:

• HB 670, a state version of the federal FACE Act, which would allow abortionists and facility owners to sue individuals who interfere with abortions, including pro-life sidewalk counselors. The bill calls for a year of prison and a $3,000 fine for obstructing access to abortion facilities.

• HB 1640, which prevents abortion records from being disclosed in civil or criminal investigations within the state.

• HB 1641, which prohibits medical liability insurers from refusing or increasing rates for doctors or facilities performing abortions.

• HB 1643, which would limit the ability of other states to prosecute Pennsylvania residents or abortionists for abortion-related actions and instruct Pennsylvania courts to avoid cooperating with out-of-state investigations.

• HB 2005, which removes the mandatory 24-hour waiting period and counseling requirements for abortion, including eliminating the requirement for abortionists to provide information about the risks, alternatives, and fetal development.

Pro-life advocates in Pennsylvania are urging constituents to contact their lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee and voice opposition to these bills. The Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation also encourages people to attend the hearing in person at the Capitol building in Harrisburg on Wednesday.

If passed, these bills would significantly alter abortion access in Pennsylvania, making it one of the most abortion-friendly states in the country, with implications not only for residents but also for those coming from out of state to seek abortions.