Pro-life advocates are fighting two bills in the Alaska Legislature that could vastly expand chemical abortions across the state.

The House Finance Committee is taking public testimony on House Bill 195 with a hearing scheduled for April 13 at 1:30 p.m.

House Bill 195 (and its companion Senate Bill 147) aims 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), and 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.

SB 147 is sponsored by Senators Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) and Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage). While the Senate version now includes an amendment by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman that excludes “prescription of an abortion-inducing drug to a patient” from the new powers granted to pharmacists, it is unclear whether this would actually address pro-life concerns.

Even with the amendment aimed at limiting pharmacists from prescribing abortion drugs, there is concern that the bill lacks ironclad exclusions, which opens the door for pharmacists to still fill prescriptions by abortion doctors

The Alaska Medical Board issued a statement to lawmakers, warning 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.”

Even with the amendment aimed at limiting pharmacists from prescribing abortion drugs, there is concern that a lack of ironclad exclusions will open the door for pharmacists to still fill prescriptions by abortion doctors, as well as distribute abortion drugs, even if they cannot independently “prescribe” them.

Additionally, the abortion amendment could face legal challenges, given the Alaska Supreme Court’s track record on striking down nearly every single pro-life measure aimed at limiting abortion access. This includes striking down restrictions on Medicaid funding for abortions and invalidating parental notification laws for minors seeking abortions. Additionally, the court is considering a challenge to the current Alaska law that limits chemical abortions to physicians only.

The Senate amendment barring pharmacists from “prescribing” abortion-inducing drugs could be challenged as an “undue burden” on access.

If pharmacists were empowered to fill orders and dispense chemical abortions, this would vastly increase chemical abortion access. Currently, there are only two Planned Parenthood abortion clinics still operating in Alaska. If pharmacists are granted authority to dispense abortion drugs, that would open up hundreds of new distribution points.

According to the latest data from the State of Alaska, there were 730 chemical abortions across the state in 2025, representing 60% of all abortions.

These chemical abortions are done using the drug Mifepristone, which kills preborn babies by blocking the hormone progesterone. This causes the nourishing lining of the mother’s uterus to break down, making it easier for her baby to be expelled. Mifepristone is typically followed by a second drug, misoprostol, which causes contractions that expel the dead baby.

TAKING ACTION

— At 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 13, the Alaska House Finance Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 195. To testify, call 907-586-9085 (Juneau), 907-563-9085 (Anchorage), or 844-586-9085 (all other locations). If testifiers call in around 1 p.m., they can get in line to give comments. Those who are unable to testify via phone can send emails to the House Finance Committee members by clicking here.

— 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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