Highly controversial legislation is under consideration in the Alaska Legislature that critics say will drastically expand chemical abortions around the state.

House Bill 195 (and its companion Senate Bill 147) aim to expand pharmacists’ authority to include prescribing and administering drugs and devices, just like doctors.

Sponsored by Representatives Genevieve Mina (D-Anchorage), Andrew Gray (D-Anchorage), Mike Prax (R-North Pole), Andi Story (D-Juneau), HB 195 would allow pharmacists to prescribe or administer a drug or device to a patient for things like chronic disease management, minor ailments and other issues. The bill received a hearing on Feb. 16 in the House Labor and Commerce Committee.

SB 147 is sponsored by Senators Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) and Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage).

Critics note that abortion would be one of many medical interventions a pharmacist would be permitted to carry out were the legislation to pass.

HB 195 / SB 147 could legalize more than 300 Chemical Abortion prescription and distribution sites.

The Alaska Medical Board issued a statement to lawmakers, opposing the legislation on these very grounds. The board warned that both SB 147 and HB 195 would “effectively expand the prescriptive authority of pharmacists to prescribe and administer any medications, including controlled substances and abortion medications.”

“The authority to broadly prescribe any medication would mean pharmacists would have the ability to diagnose and therefore treat any medical condition,” the Medical Board added. “The diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions is the practice of medicine. The State Medical Board opposes pharmacists being granted the ability to practice medicine in Alaska. The Alaska State Medical Board strongly urges you to vote against SB 147 and HB 195.”

Alaska Right to Life also adamantly opposes both bills.

“If passed, HB 195 / SB 147 would expand Chemical Abortion (Mifepristone) access from Anchorage and Fairbanks Planned Parenthood sites to virtually every city, town, and village that has a hospital, clinic, or pharmacy,” Alaska Right to Life Director Pat Martin noted in a Feb. 16 email alert.

He warned that the bills present at least two significant risks to pre-born babies and their mothers: An increase in the overall number of chemical abortions in Alaska, and the number of women seriously harmed by these procedures.

“To put this into perspective, 720 babies were killed by Chemical Abortions in 2024 through just three Planned Parenthood sites (now just 2 sites – Juneau closed last year),” Martin wrote. “HB 195 / SB 147 could legalize more than 300 Chemical Abortion prescription and distribution sites. Not only does the number of sites distributing Chemical Abortions increase, but the number of Chemical Abortion prescribers increases.”

In 2024, Alaska reported 1,224 abortions with nearly 6 in 10 (59%) done using the chemical abortion drug, Mifepristone. This drug works by blocking the hormone progesterone. This causes the nourishing lining of the mother’s uterus to break down, making it easier for her pre-born baby to be expelled. Mifepristone is typically followed by a second drug, misoprostol, which causes contractions that expel the dead baby.

According to Americans United For Life (AUL), which tracks the dangers of Mifepristone, there are numerous complications associate with the drug, such as incomplete abortion wherein the pill does not fully terminate the pregnancy, leading to the need for additional medical intervention.

Mifepristone can also lead to infections and heavy bleeding that can be life-threatening, especially for women who live off the road system, and do not have easy access to medical treatment.

While Alaska law states that only licensed physicians can “perform” abortions (including chemical ones) in approved facilities, a September 2024 Alaska Superior Court ruling claimed this physician-only restriction is unconstitutional under the Alaska Constitution and blocked the law through a permanent injunction. This ruling was appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court and is awaiting a final decision.

TAKING ACTION

— HB 195 is currently in the House Labor & Commerce Committee. Click here to call or email these members.

— SB 147 is currently in the Senate Finance Committee. Click here to call or email these members.

— Click here to contact Rep. Mike Prax, a Republican who claims to be pro-life but is sponsoring HB 195.

— Click here to contact Sen. Cathy Giessel, a Republican who is sponsoring SB 147.

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