A controversial legislative measure, which would repeal the requirement for parental notification before an underage girl has an abortion, passed a Senate committee this week.

Senate Bill 1594 would repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995, which prohibits a doctor from performing an abortion on a minor unless they have given at least 48 hours’ notice to a parent or guardian.

Opponents of the measure have raised concerns that minors do not have the emotional maturity to make such difficult decisions, which will have lifelong consequences, without the support of a parent or guardian. They argue that a parent has a responsibility to provide for the health and emotional well-being of their child, and that repealing parental notification for abortions impedes their ability to fulfill that responsibility.

Senate Bill 1594 passed in the Senate Public Health Committee on March 19 and now heads to the Senate Floor for consideration by the full body.