Senate set to vote on $71B Ohio budget with abortion limits

COLUMBUS (AP) — For the second consecutive session, Ohio lawmakers are making seemingly little changes to the state budget with large consequences for abortion providers.

Two last-minute amendments to a budget bill poised for Senate passage today could force abortion clinics in Toledo and Dayton to close.

One amendment requires a “local” hospital used for emergency patient transfers to be within 30 miles. Toledo’s clinic uses one 50 miles away. Under another change, clinics have two months to obtain state permission to operate without a patient-transfer agreement or must close. Women’s Med in Dayton’s request for a variance to the requirement has been pending for two years.