On October 22, 2025, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee convened a hearing for House Bill (HB) 1957, a proposed state constitutional amendment with significant implications. This bill aims to enshrine in Pennsylvania’s constitution a “fundamental right to exercise personal reproductive liberty.” The hearing provided a platform for legal and medical experts to offer testimony regarding the far-reaching consequences of this proposed legislation.

Among those providing expert analysis was Professor Elizabeth Kirk, Co-Director of the Center for Law & the Human Person and Assistant Professor of Law at Catholic Law. Professor Kirk delivered compelling testimony, skillfully breaking down the legal deficiencies within the bill.

Kirk articulated how HB 1957's broad language, under the guise of "reproductive liberty," could extend far beyond abortion to include procedures like sterilization or gender-transition surgery, could allow minors to obtain abortions without parental consent, could remove existing limitations on abortion access throughout all stages of pregnancy, and could require taxpayer funding for all protected procedures.

Highlighting the radical scope of the proposed amendment, Kirk noted that its provisions would ultimately go "far beyond what Roe did," outlining a legal framework with profound and expansive societal effects.

Kirk's testimony can be seen below.