The Montana Department of Health and Human Services is in the process of adopting new rules to regulate clinics that offer abortion services. The Department has issued a draft for public comment.

In issuing the proposed rules the department said, “In the department’s judgment, these current regulatory requirements represent the appropriate level of regulatory requirements to impose on abortion clinics.”  An online hearing has already been held. Read the proposed rules here:

https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/rules/37-1052pro-arm.pdf

The rules impose restrictions on clinics offering abortion services in virtually all areas of operations from staffing to lighting to the size of hallways.  The rules are being proposed after a district court found legislation passed by the last legislature to provide the same kind of regulation to be too vague.

At the hearing the proponents of the new rules were the usual anti-abortion activists and organizations.  Opponents of the rules were predominantly local clinics who provide abortion services.  The opponents argued that the rules are intended to make it more difficult to operate and that the intent of the rules is to force them to close.

Please Submit Comment

The deadline is August 23.  Comments can be submitted to this email address. [email protected].  More information

Health department holds hearing on abortion licensure rules