Pittsburgh councilman to introduce legislation that would protect abortion access in city

Legislation expected to be introduced to Pittsburgh City Council next week aims to preserve abortion access in the city if Pennsylvania bans abortions.

Councilman Bobby Wilson, a Democrat from Spring Hill, sponsored three separate bills hours after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, deciding that Americans do not have a constitutional right to abortion. The decision clears the way for states to enact their own abortion laws.

Wilson introduced policies that he said would protect abortion rights in the city if Pennsylvania enacted measures restricting abortions.

If the commonwealth bans abortion, the first bill would instruct the city’s police to “deprioritize enforcement of any abortion-related crime,” Wilson’s office said in a statement.

The second bill would regulate “deceptive advertising by crisis pregnancy centers” in the city, Wilson said.

“We want to regulate what the public thinks they’re going to get out of a crisis pregnancy center,” he said.

The third measure would attempt to shield abortion providers in Pittsburgh from out-of-state investigation or prosecution for providing abortions that are legal in Pennsylvania.

“I believe that everyone has a constitutional right to reproductive freedom in this country,” Wilson said. “I further believe that the enjoyment of this right entails the exercise of the right to choose what happens to your body.”

Wilson said he’s been working on the legislation since a Supreme Court draft opinion was leaked last month, suggesting the high court was poised to strike down the landmark case.

“I want to make sure that if you’re a Pittsburgher or if you intend to be a Pittsburgher, that you’re protected,” he said.

Wilson said he is beginning to have conversations with the city’s legal experts to determine what effect the measures would have if Pennsylvania did ban abortions.

He said he will introduce the legislation at Tuesday’s city council meeting.