Democrats on a legislative committee voted Thursday to advance a bill that proposes to enshrine the right to an abortion in the Maine Constitution.

The 6-5 vote along party lines by the Judiciary Committee sends the bill to the Legislature, where it will need two-thirds support before going out to the voters.

Last month, more than 100 people came to the State House in support of LD 780, which proposes to ask Maine voters in November if they favor an amendment to “declare that every person has a right to reproductive autonomy.”

Sponsor Sen. Eloise Vitelli (D-Arrowsic) said she sponsored the measure because she believes reproductive health deserves the same level of protection as other constitutionally protected rights.

Despite the vote to move the bill out of committee, it’s unlikely to get the two-thirds needed to become law because of Republican opposition.

Last year, Maine Democrats expanded access to abortions with a measure to allow women to have the procedure later in pregnancy with permission from a physician.

During the Judiciary Committee’s Thursday discussion, Rep. David Haggan (R-Hampden) said he opposes the constitutional amendment because he thinks the law passed by Democrats last year goes too far.

“It really feels to me like this is more recreational murder or recreational abortion,” he said, adding that he doesn’t believe it deserves protection in the constitution.

Democrats on the committee said they feel they need to take action to protect reproductive rights following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed a federal constitutional right to an abortion.

“I think that that’s a question that needs to be answered by the voters of Maine, as to whether they have a constitutional right to reproductive autonomy,” said Rep. Adam Lee (D-Auburn).

While Maine expanded access, many states passed laws to restrict the procedure, with 21 now banning or limiting abortions in a more restrictive manner than the standard set in 1973’s Roe v. Wade decision.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, six states — California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Vermont and Ohio — have passed constitutional amendments to protect the right to an abortion. In 13 more, including Maine, efforts are underway to get amendments on the November ballot, according to the KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation.