LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As abortion rights remain a major issue in the race for president and for voters, the question looms whether Kentucky policymakers will add more exceptions to the state's near total abortion ban in the 2025 legislative session.
During the primetime presidential debate Tuesday night, former President Donald Trump said '85% of Republicans' support exceptions for instances of rape or incest.
But during Kentucky's last two legislative sessions, exceptions bills filed by state GOP lawmakers have seen little movement, not even making it to a committee hearing.
It comes as the Planned Parenthood in Cincinnati, Ohio -- the nearest abortion clinic to Louisville -- is seeing Kentuckians travel over in waves for the procedure. Officials at the surgical center say they're seeing more demand from Kentucky than any other surrounding state.
Addia Wuchner, executive director of the pro-life group Kentucky Right to Life, has seen the trend too.
"We know that there are a large number of abortions by zip code that have taken place either out of state or have taken place because of the medications being shipped into the state," she said.
Wuchner, a Republican and former state representative, doesn't see Kentucky providing more exceptions for rape or incest. Right now, the state only allows the procedure if it's to save the life of the pregnant woman.
"I think it is a non-starter," she said regarding adding exceptions. "The lawmakers in the state who have worked for a long time have said that we're not going to terminate the lives of unborn children."
But Don Fitzpatrick, chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party, told WHAS11 these conversations are happening at a state level.
"Personally, I've talked to a number of Republicans who do [want more exceptions] -- they're more socially liberal -- but I've also talked to Republicans who are basically very pleased with what the legislature has come forward with," Fitzpatrick said.
State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have shown support for exceptions bills including Hadley's Law, named after abortion rights advocate and rape survivor Hadley Duvall from Owensboro.
"Sen. David Yates was ready, and we couldn't even get it heard in a committee," Duvall told WHAS11 in Cincinnati on Monday.
Sen. David Yates of Louisville, a Democrat, sponsored Hadley's Law in early 2024. The other exceptions bill filed in that legislative session was by State Rep. Ken Fleming, a Republican from Louisville.
Neither bill made it to a committee vote, let alone a hearing on the Senate or House floor.
"Most people, we agree there should be some exceptions, but how do we do that," Yates said. "I believe, just my conversations, that we're very close to be able to have enough votes to pass, if we can get there."
When asked whether he believes Republicans in control of the state legislature will make more movement on this front, Fleming responded in a statement saying, "We are considering several bills including this one... We will have a better idea in December."
In 2022, Kentuckians voted down a constitutional amendment that would have denied a fundamental right to an abortion in the state.
When asked where the disconnect is between the desires of constituents and lawmakers, Yates said, "I think the fear of being held politically accountable. There are some straw man arguments that are put up where people are attacked and beat down."
Meanwhile in Cincinnati, CEO of Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Nan Whaley said they "don't see this landscape changing quickly over the next decade."
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.