Marty Durand, attorney for Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, told the Senate State Affairs Committee, "We stand in opposition" to SB 1165. "The premise of this bill, that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks, is not a scientifically accepted fact," she said. "Think about it - a family with a wanted pregnancy that goes terribly wrong must face an unwanted decision that no family wants to face."

Ken McClure, lobbyist for the Idaho Medical Association, said the IMA rarely weighs in on abortion bills, but there are problems with the bill, including its conflict with another Idaho law that permits late abortion of an abnormal fetus that will die at birth. The bill requires such pregnancies to be carried to term, and bans inducing labor early; McClure said that likely will cause more pain to the fetus than an induced early labor. He said the bill needs several amendments, including clarifying that inducing labor at full term is not prohibited.

Hannah Brass of the ACLU she believes SB 1165 is unconstitutional. "States cannot ban pre-viability abortions and can ban post-viability abortions only if there is an exception to protect the mother's life and health," including mental health. She said of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, "They did not change any of this precedent," and said, "We are also concerned about the lack of a rape or incest exception."