Idaho Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Ban Fetal Tissue Sales

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Legislature is the latest state to consider making it illegal to buy, sell or donate unborn fetal tissue, even though no such practice exists in the state.

The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 7-2 along party lines Friday to introduce legislation that would make it a felony to distribute fetal tissue after an abortion. Similar legislation is pending in several other states.

The proposal is a response to undercover videos released last summer that alleged that Planned Parenthood officials were selling fetal tissue for profit, but a grand jury recently cleared the officials and instead indicted two anti-abortion advocates.

Gov. C. L. "Butch" Otter declined to investigate Planned Parenthood in Idaho last year despite requests from multiple Republican lawmakers.