We must do more to protect the unborn

Submitted by State Senator Andy Zay

As a father of five children, a member of the Catholic Church and an Indiana state senator, I have and always will support pro-life legislation that protects unborn babies and supports parents.

In recent years, the General Assembly has placed more emphasis on pro-life policymaking by enacting much-needed legislation, but there is still more work that needs to be done to ensure unborn babies are completely protected in Indiana.

Recognizing the need to protect life in all areas of the law, this session I will introduce a bill that further values the lives of unborn babies and protects parents’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars.

The bill provides that an unborn baby is considered a dependent child for the purpose of allowing parents to claim a $2,500 income-tax exemption while the mother is pregnant, as long as valid proof of pregnancy is met through legal documentation. This tax exemption by no means fully covers the cost of having a child, but it is a way for the state to provide families with some financial support.

According to Indiana’s non-partisan Legislative Services Agency, this bill would benefit about 60,000 families per year, and save families $7 million per year collectively.

Indiana is one of the most pro-life states in the nation. Which is why during the 2022 special legislative session, I worked tirelessly in the General Assembly to pass Senate Enrolled Act 1.

SEA 1 terminates the licensure of abortion clinics and bans most abortions in Indiana — with few exceptions.

Protecting unborn children is also part of Indiana’s criminal law in that, if a pregnant woman is killed, the person who committed the crime can face tougher sentencing since the law considers the unborn child a second victim.

If Indiana acknowledges life in instances like these, shouldn’t we protect life in other areas of law?

As an Indiana lawmaker, it is my duty to support legislation that benefits all Hoosiers, and this is part of my effort to do so. As we head into the 2024 legislative session, I urge my fellow Republicans to join me in advocating for policies that further protect unborn babies and support Hoosier families.

Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington, represents Senate District 17, which includes Grant, Huntington and Wabash counties.