A Republican-backed bill introduced this week that would ban abortion at any stage of pregnancy in North Carolina will not move forward, according to North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall.
“I don’t think there’s any real desire in our caucus to hear that particular bill, so it’s not going to be heard in committee,” Hall told reporters after Tuesday’s House voting session.
The bill, introduced on Monday by Rep. Keith Kidwell and co-sponsored by two other House Republicans, aims to outlaw abortion from the moment of conception. It includes no exceptions except to save the mother’s life. Violating this law would carry felony charges and a civil penalty of $100,000.
Democrats immediately criticized the proposal and vowed to fight against it vigorously. Named the “Human Life Protection Act of 2025,” the bill mirrors legislation Kidwell proposed in 2023 that also failed to gain traction. At that time, Republicans were working behind the scenes to find a consensus on abortion restrictions that could unite the party.
That effort ultimately led to a 2023 law banning most abortions after 12 weeks, with exceptions allowing for abortions up to 20 weeks in cases of rape and incest, up to 24 weeks for fetal abnormalities, and at any point if a doctor determines it is a medical emergency. This law passed over a veto from then-Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat. Newly-elected Governor Josh Stein, also a Democrat, would also likely veto this verison.
Hall stated on Tuesday that he doesn’t expect any significant changes to that law during this session. “We just passed, less than two years ago, really landmark pro-life legislation,” Hall said. “I think we need to give it time to see how it works. I don’t anticipate doing much more on that issue right now.”
Senate leader Phil Berger echoed Hall’s position, mentioning that he hadn’t reviewed Kidwell’s bill and did not foresee changes to the current 12-week law. “I don’t know that there’s support to pass a more restrictive bill and override a veto,” Berger remarked. “So I don’t see us moving in that direction.” He had previously stated last June that he did not support introducing additional abortion restrictions this year, clarifying that he was speaking only for himself.
