COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two Republican lawmakers are introducing a bill that would ban abortion and criminalize the procedure. That’s despite Ohio voters approving an amendment to the state constitution that protects abortion rights nearly two years ago.

The bill — the “Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act” — points to a clause in the U.S. constitution, which says states can’t deny anyone equal protection from laws. The bill considers embryos to be humans once they’re fertilized. It was introduced by Levi Dean, R-Xenia, and Johnathan Newman, R-Troy.

Nicholas Kallis, the executive director of End Abortion Ohio, said the bill would categorize abortions as prenatal homicides. 

“The woman, since she is the principal actor, could be subject to prosecution,” Kallis said. “All it declares is the humanity of the person or the pre-born. And that we should treat them as human beings with the same rights that you and I have.” 

But abortion advocates say it’s the same 14th Amendment of the U.S. constitution that protects every woman’s right to make their own choices about their reproductive health.

State Rep. Allison Russo (D) said the bill’s supporters aren’t respecting Ohioan’s wishes for abortion rights.

“We have reproductive freedoms that are enshrined in our constitution,” Russo said. “So, I consider those viewpoints to be definitely not in line with where most Ohioans are.”

This bill will now go into the House’s Rules and Reference committee and it’s up to the Speaker to decide whether it will get assigned to a committee and move forward.

But House Speaker Matt Huffman (R) didn’t comment on the bill saying he’s focused on the measures that could reach the house floor this month.

“I’ve got the marijuana thing in a budget and all of that,” Huffman said. “So whatever issues we’re going to take up, there’s a lot of other issues besides that, that the members want to address. We’re talking about a bill about closed primaries and a whole number of other school things.”