Full Breakdown
Louisiana House Committee Rejects Rape and Incest Exceptions to State Abortion Ban
5/25/2026, 12:08:14 AM
Legislative Decision
On May 19, 2024, the Louisiana House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee rejected House Bill 261, which would have added rape and incest exceptions to the state’s near-total abortion ban. The vote was ten against, two for.
Policy Background
Louisiana’s near-total abortion ban prohibits abortions at any stage, allowing only narrow medical exceptions. Since its enactment, legislators have repeatedly tried to carve out rape-and-incest exceptions, but each proposal has stalled in committee.
Lawmakers and Personal Histories
Democratic Rep. Delisha Boyd (New Orleans) introduced the bill, citing her mother’s rape at age 15. Rep. Pat Moore (Monroe) and Rep. Doyle Boudreaux (Scott) also shared similar family histories, while Republicans Alonzo Knox (New Orleans) and Vanessa LaFleur (Baton Rouge) voted for the amendment.
Public Opinion and Vote Details
A 2023 LSU Manship School poll found 77 % of Louisianans support legal abortion after rape. In the committee, ten members opposed the bill, two Democrats supported it. Only four members of the public testified, split evenly.
Official Positions
Boyd urged colleagues to consider the trauma of a child born of rape, framing the issue as compassion for mother and infant. Moore, despite a similar background, declined to back the bill, stating that legislators should not decide matters of life and death. Boudreaux noted his own mother’s rape-resulting birth but voted against the amendment.
Opposition and Critiques
Republican members argued that exceptions would erode the ban’s integrity and could open broader abortion access. Some constituents expressed concern that the amendment would undermine the state’s pro-life stance. Critics also noted the limited survivor testimony and the lack of comprehensive public input.
Survivor Voices
Advocate Audrey Wascome testified that prior survivors felt unsafe speaking after being mistreated by audience members, describing a climate of fear that discourages public disclosure of assault.
Gaps in the Record
The committee heard only four public testimonies, limiting survivor perspectives. The source does not provide data on how many women in Louisiana have sought abortions due to rape or incest.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I stand before you again today asking that we think about the life of the baby who got raped and what they have to endure,” — Delisha Boyd, Representative, New Orleans
- “I think it's a tragedy that we would force children to carry the babies of their rapist,” — Delisha Boyd, Representative, New Orleans
- “I am not the author of life and death. None of us are.” — Pat Moore, Representative, Monroe
- “They're terrified to publicly say that they've been assaulted,” — Audrey Wascome, Advocate and childhood sexual abuse survivor
Future Prospects
Rep. Boyd said she will reintroduce a rape-and-incest exception bill in the next legislative session, continuing the effort despite repeated committee defeats.
Broader Implications
The debate highlights the tension between Louisiana’s strict abortion framework and public support for exceptions, influencing future legislative strategies and advocacy efforts.
