(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indiana Senate on Tuesday approved legislation aimed at curbing the illegal distribution of abortion-inducing drugs by mail, further tightening the state's already strict abortion laws.
Senate Bill 236 passed the chamber on a 35-10 vote and now moves to the Indiana House for consideration. The bill targets the distribution of abortion pills that supporters say are being illegally shipped into Indiana following the state's near-total abortion ban enacted in 2022.
Authored by Sen. Tyler Johnson, the legislation seeks to address what backers describe as a growing "gray market" for medication abortions. Supporters argue that online providers and out-of-state distributors are bypassing Indiana law by mailing abortion pills directly to residents.
The bill would allow private citizens to file civil lawsuits against individuals or entities involved in prescribing, manufacturing, transporting or distributing abortion pills illegally within Indiana. It also authorizes wrongful death lawsuits by the mother or father of an unborn child if injuries or death result from the use of trafficked abortion drugs.
Advocacy groups supporting the bill cite data showing an increase in medication abortions and abortion-related complications since restrictions on in-person procedures took effect. They argue that limited medical oversight and lack of age verification create additional risks for women, including coercion and abuse.
Opponents of the measure warn the bill could discourage people from seeking medical care and push abortions further underground. Medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have maintained that abortion medications are safe when used under proper medical guidance.
If approved by the House and signed into law, Senate Bill 236 would place Indiana among the most aggressive states in pursuing civil action against those involved in the distribution of abortion pills, including out-of-state providers.