The Georgia State Capitol is located in downtown Atlanta. ATLANTA – Georgia would provide state-funded grants to “pregnancy resource centers” that offer medical and other services to pregnant women while discouraging them from getting abortions under legislation that easily passed the Georgia House.
Members voted Friday in favor of creating the grant program after a heated debate. The bill already has passed the Senate but goes back for agreement.
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Renee Unterman of Buford, has said the bill is a response to videos released this summer by abortion opponents showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing procedures for obtaining tissue from aborted fetuses for research.
The Senate’s budget proposal includes $2 million to fund the first year of the grant program. House and Senate budget negotiators are expected to begin talks this weekend about the spending plan.