Missouri’s HB 807: A Dangerous Expansion of Government Control Over Pregnancy
Missouri lawmakers have introduced House Bill 807, also known as the "Save MO Babies Act." At first glance, the bill claims to expand maternal and child resources, but in reality, it prioritizes adoption over actual healthcare, funneling state resources into anti-abortion programs rather than providing meaningful support for pregnant individuals and families.
What HB 807 Does
Missouri already has a near-total abortion ban, so this bill isn’t about restricting abortion further. Instead, it reinforces the idea that once pregnant, a person’s only state-supported option is carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the baby for adoption.
If passed, this bill would:
Create a state-run pregnancy registry that tracks individuals the government deems “at risk” for seeking an abortion. This registry could be accessed by adoption agencies, essentially turning pregnant people into a monitored marketplace for adoption placement. Government tracking of pregnant individuals raises serious privacy concerns and could be used to coerce people into continuing pregnancies they do not want or cannot safely carry.
Redirect public funds from legitimate reproductive healthcare providers to adoption agencies and Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs), which are often unregulated and known for spreading misinformation.
Ignore Missouri’s maternal health crisis. The state has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country—especially for Black women—yet HB 807 fails to address the systemic issues leading to these disparities.
Overlook critical support systems like Medicaid expansion, postpartum care, and paid leave, which are essential for maternal and infant health but are not included in the bill’s provisions.
Missouri Voters Already Spoke on Abortion Rights
In November, Missouri voters overwhelmingly supported a ballot initiative to restore abortion rights in the state. The measure aimed to undo Missouri’s near-total abortion ban, which has been in place since the fall of Roe v. Wade. Despite this clear message from the public, lawmakers continue to push anti-abortion policies like HB 807 that undermine reproductive autonomy.
Additionally, recent lawsuits have exposed the ways Missouri’s anti-abortion policies were crafted with heavy influence from religious ideology rather than medical science. A lawsuit from Planned Parenthood highlights how state officials pushed misleading claims about abortion and worked closely with religious organizations to justify restrictive policies. These revelations further demonstrate that HB 807 is not about improving maternal or infant health—it’s about pushing an ideological agenda.
Where HB 807 Stands in the Legislative Process
HB 807 was introduced in January 2024 and is currently moving through Missouri’s committee hearings, where lawmakers are debating its impact. If it advances, it will move to the House floor for a vote.
Why This Matters
If Missouri lawmakers were truly committed to supporting families, they would invest in comprehensive healthcare, financial assistance, and early childhood programs—not just policies that coerce birth without providing real support.
HB 807 is not about saving lives. It’s about controlling reproductive choices under the guise of helping families. Ensuring true maternal and child well-being requires expanding access to evidence-based healthcare—not funneling resources into anti-abortion initiatives disguised as support.
What You Can Do
If you live in Missouri, now is the time to speak out. Call your representatives and demand real solutions—not performative policies that put politics over people’s healthcare.
If you live in another state, stay alert. Bills like HB 807 are part of a larger national strategy to further restrict reproductive autonomy. Missouri isn’t the first state to push a bill like this—and it won’t be the last.
Stay informed. Stay engaged. And don’t let lawmakers control your choices.
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