Seitz to Pre-File Pro-Life Legislation, Other Bills for Upcoming Session

Fresh off his reelection to a third term in the Missouri House of Representatives, Brian Seitz announces his intention to continue pursuit of Pro-Life Legislation.

In a press release filed by Seitz, who will begin his third two-year term in January, the 156th State Representative states his intention to refile his Personhood Bill he initially filed in 2023. Seitz says the bill would give unborn children the same rights and protection granted people beginning at conception. 

Seitz also intends to propose similar legislation for babies who survive abortion attempts. 

Seitz says in the release that these filings are in response to the passage of Amendment 3 which loosened some of the abortion restrictions passed earlier by the Missouri Legislature. 

In a conversation during "Ozarks Now" Election Coverage from Legends 1063 and the Branson Tri-Lakes News, Seitz said some other legislation he will continue to pursue will be the extending of the Statute of Limitations for Abuse Victims as well as Infrastructure Laws that would help high visitor areas including the Lakes Region.

The complete interview with Brian Seitz is below followed by the complete release on his Pro-Life Legislation:

Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, today announced his intention to file two pieces of pro-life legislation for the upcoming session. 

The first bill, is a refile of his Missouri Personhood Bill from last session. The legislation stated, in part, that, "The life of each human being begins at conception. Unborn children have protectable interests in life, health, and well-being and are entitled to the same rights, powers, privileges, justice, and protections as are secured or granted by the laws of this state to any other human person.”
 
“This simple, yet absolutely necessary, piece of legislation is designed to protect the life of the infant in the womb by declaring them to be an individual person in the State of Missouri," Seitz said. "The language of this bill does not, and will not, mention abortion. This isn't about abortion, it is about extending basic human rights to the unborn. If they are a human being at any point, they are a human being at all points, and should be afforded the same rights and privileges that we all enjoy."
 
Seitz originally drafted the legislation, in part, because of the failure of the Legislature to pass initiative petition reforms last session. Those concerns were shown to be justified after the passage of Amendment 3. 
 
"Due to the relative ease by which out-of-state organizations have manipulated our state constitution through the initiative petition process, this legislation is vital," Seitz said. "This personhood bill is absolutely essential to protect innocent life in Missouri.”
 
The second piece of legislation will provide "born alive" protections to those babies who survive botched abortion attempts. This legislation will ensure that infants born alive after an attempted abortion receive the same protection of law and degree of care as any newborn. 

"After the passage of Amendment 3 has provided unfettered access to abortion, with very few protections for mothers and their children, this legislation is absolutely necessary," Seitz said. "It is my hope to get my Personhood legislation passed, which would make this legislation unnecessary, but barring that, we must have protections for those babies who survive the violent act of abortion. They cannot be allowed to die on a cold hospital table while medical staff simply watch the process play out."

"When I was first elected, I said one of my tentpole issues was protecting the lives of the unborn," Seitz concluded. "That has not changed, and I will fight to get these bills passed this session." 
 
Pre-filing for the upcoming session begins on Dec. 1, 2024.