Governors This Week: New Abortion Restrictions, New Prisons, Redistricting, and More

Noem Orders SD Abortion Restrictions:

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R)issued an executive order imposing significant restrictions on abortion in the Coyote State. Under Executive order 2021-12, doctors not licensed in South Dakota are barred from prescribing abortion-inducing chemicals or delivering those products via courier, telemedicine or mail service. Abortion-inducing drugs are also barred from being dispensed or provided in schools or on state grounds.

Noem’s directive comes days after a Texas law was allowed to go into effect that bars abortions after six weeks of pregnancy – well before most women know they are pregnant – and grants citizens a private right of action against anyone who aids in a woman obtaining an abortion after that time period.

Current South Dakota law bars abortions after 22 weeks, but Noem reportedly told her top legal advisor to find ways to make their state’s abortion laws even more restrictive than the Texas measure. (USA TODAY, ARGUS LEADER [SIOUX FALLS])

IA Gov Commits $100M in Fed Funds to Housing:

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) announced she plans to put $100 million in federal coronavirus aid toward state affordable housing initiatives. Reynolds said the money will be divided among several state programs to create incentives for new home construction and to assist homeowners with repairs and down payments. (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH)

AL Gov Seeks Support for New Prisons:

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) sent lawmakers a letter urging them to support a $785 million bond proposal to build new men’s prisons in Elmore and Escambia counties that would hold 4,000 inmates each, more than twice the size of any of the Heart of Dixie’s 14 other penal institutions. The plan, which is currently being drafted into legislation, would also likely utilize federal COVID-19 relief funds. (AL.COM)

Abbott Sets TX Special Session on Redistricting:

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has called a special session for September 20^th to address redistricting and a handful of other issues, including how to distribute federal pandemic aid and whether local governments can mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for employees. (TEXAS TRIBUNE)

-- Compiled by RICH EHISEN