Voters would decide whether to protect life from fertilization

The proposed amendment would recognize a distinct human life from fertilization as an individual person protected by state law. The language covers human life beginning at fertilization. The protection would continue until natural death, except for a person convicted of a crime punishable by death. The amendment would take effect January 1, 2027, if a majority of votes cast on the question favor it.

The proposed amendment would treat willfully trying to destroy another person's life as attempted murder, and succeeding as first-degree murder. The rule applies to people who willfully seek to destroy another person's life at any stage, including people born or unborn, unless that person has committed a crime punishable by death. A person could use deadly force if necessary to defend their own life or another person's life from willful destruction. This rule would take effect January 1, 2027, if a majority of votes cast on the amendment favor it.