Personhood Amendments in Play in Two States

Special Report - March 5, 2009
Last month, the Montana State Senate gave its final approval to legislation that would allow voters of the chance to vote on an amendment to the state constitution that would define personhood as a human being at all stages of development, regardless of health and level of functioning. The Montana Personhood Amendment, as it is known, passed the Senate on third reading by a 26 to 24 vote, and now heads to the State House, where it must be approved by a majority vote of the 74-member chamber. If it passes the House, Montana would become the first state in the nation to pass a Personhood bill. The amendment would then go before Montana voters for consideration on a state ballot in November 2010.

Montana’s Personhood Amendment legislation states in part: “For purposes of this Article, person means a human being at all stages of human development of life, including the state of fertilization or conception, regardless of age, health, level of functioning, or condition of dependency.”

On February 18, the North Dakota House also passed Personhood legislation. That bill is now in the State Senate where it awaits a vote.

Keith Mason of Personhood USA, a grassroots Christian organization promoting Personhood Amendments nationwide, called the Montana Senate passage of the Personhood bill, “a giant step forward in historic efforts to ensure the rights and protection of every individual.”

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