Wyoming House passes bill for waiting period for abortions

The Wyoming House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require a 48-hour waiting period for women planning to have an abortion in the state.

House Bill 140 was approved on a 36-22 vote Friday. It now goes to the state Senate for its consideration.

The proposed bill would require women to wait 48 hours before undergoing the procedure. The waiting period would not be enforced if the abortion is necessary to save a woman’s life.

During debate on the proposal Friday, proponents say a 48-hour wait makes sense in the case of someone planning to undergo a surgical procedure while opponents the state would be interfering in a difficult decision between a woman and her doctor.