Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1027 into law on Saturday, a measure that pro-life advocates say strengthens protections for the state’s pro-life abortion ban by reforming the initiative petition process.

The bill, which caps the number of signatures that can be collected from each county for state ballot questions, aims to ensure broader representation across Oklahoma’s 77 counties, particularly amplifying rural voices.

The legislation amends the requirements for state question petitions, setting a signature cap at 10% of voters in counties with populations over 400,000 and 4% in counties with fewer than 400,000 residents. Proponents argue this change prevents urban-dominated petition drives from overriding the will of rural communities, where pro-life sentiment often runs strong.

Click here to sign up for pro-life news alerts from LifeNews.com

The bill’s author, state Sen. David Bullard, emphasized that the previous system allowed petitioners to “ignore 97.5% of the state’s counties,” which he called “corruption.”

Oklahoma’s near-total abortion ban, enacted after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, prohibits abortions except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest reported to law enforcement. Pro-life groups have praised the state’s leadership in restricting abortion, with Governor Stitt previously signing multiple pro-life bills, including one in 2021 banning abortions after a  heartbeat is detected.

A leading pro-life group told LifeNews it was thankful for Stitt’s signature on the bill and the further protects it affords to the abortion ban, which protects women and unborn children.

“Governor Kevin Stitt signed SB 1027 into law over the weekend, and because the bill has an Emergency Clause, it became effective immediately upon receiving his signature,” said Tony Lauinger of Oklahomans for Life. “Thank you very much to all of you who phoned his office to encourage him to sign the bill. And thanks to all of you who emailed legislators during this monthslong effort.”

“The strengthening of requirements for initiative petitions which SB 1027 provides will help greatly in the looming battle over abortion promoters planned effort to try to force a constitutional right to unlimited abortion on demand on the unborn children of Oklahoma,” he explained.

The new law makes it more challenging for pro-abortion radicals to gather the signatures needed to place a state question on the ballot, a process that could potentially reverse or weaken Oklahoma’s abortion ban. By requiring petition drives to collect signatures from a wider geographic spread, Senate Bill 1027 increases the logistical and financial hurdles for such efforts.

Senate Bill 1027 takes effect immediately, and pro-life advocates are optimistic it will fortify Oklahoma’s position as a leader in protecting unborn life. Meanwhile, opponents are exploring legal challenges, arguing the law restricts democratic participation. As the debate continues, the measure underscores the deep divide over how Oklahomans shape their state’s future through the ballot box.

The post Governor Kevin Stitt Signs Bill Making It Harder to Reverse Oklahoma Abortion Ban appeared first on LifeNews.com.