Dept. of Health will create educational video on state's abortion laws

Measure advances to Gov. Kristi Noem's desk

PIERRE — Democratic and Republican lawmakers want to make South Dakota’s near total ban on abortions easier to understand.

That’s after a bipartisan group of South Dakota Senators gave final legislative approval to House Bill 1224, which compels the Department of Health to create an informational video and “other materials” on the state’s existing abortion laws.

The bill specifies that the video, which must be released to the public by Sept. 1 should include information about what constitutes an abortion, the most common medical conditions that threaten the health or life of a woman and how a doctor may determine when to terminate a pregnancy based on concerns about the health of a mother. The Health Department will rely on the Attorney General’s Office to provide clarity in describing the state’s regulations.

Senate prime sponsor Erin Tobin said that the video and other materials produced as a result of the bill when it becomes law will help to “combat misinformation.”

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