Topeka ? Kansas’ House gave first-round approval Wednesday to a bill that would impose greater restrictions on abortion clinics — a move opponents said continues a march toward restricting women’s health care choices.

The bill imposes specific health and safety standards on abortion clinics, and would require an unannounced inspection by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

“This is a move to make it harder and more difficult for a woman to obtain a legal medical procedure,” said Rep. Judith Loganbill, a Wichita Democrat. “I know this won’t fail, but I sure hope you consider long and hard before you push a green button.”

“It’s more a pro-women’s health bill,” said Rep. Steve Huebert, a Valley Center Republican.

The measure is similar to legislation that previous governors, including Democratic Govs. Kathleen Sebelius and Mark Parkinson, have vetoed. This year’s version advanced to final House action on a voice vote. Passage Thursday would send the bill to the Senate for consideration.

On Tuesday, lawmakers sent Republican Gov. Sam Brownback bills requiring minor girls to get parental consent for abortions, and restricting abortions after the 21st week. He’s expected to sign both measures, keeping a promise he made in his State of the State address to approve legislation “establishing a culture of life in Kansas.”

“We must support the dignity of every human being whether that person is unemployed, undereducated, or unborn,” he said in January.

Supporters said the clinic regulation bill would raise the standard of care for abortion clinics to require increased safety precautions to protect the life of a woman. They cited a Pennsylvania clinic where a provider faces charges for deaths at the clinic by women seeking abortions.

The regulation bill is patterned after a South Carolina law that has withstood court challenges, said Rep. Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican and lead sponsor of the measure.

“We feel we can approach this with a high degree of confidence,” Kinzer said.

Peter Brownlie, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, said on Wednesday the governor and the GOP legislative majorities were focusing on social issues, instead of fixing the economy and creating jobs.

Brownlie said Republicans were elected in November on the promise of balancing budgets, but instead are putting social issues at the head of the line.

“We’ve seen an unprecedented attack on women’s health care,” he said.

Rep. Barbara Bollier, a Mission Hills Republican and retired anesthesiologist, said the regulations would be burdensome to women in requiring them to return to a physician if they take the so-called abortion drug RU-486 at home, while other procedures and medications such as penicillin require no such mandated visit.

Bollier said the flaws with the bill were reflected by the fact they originated in committees not designed to address medical issues. The regulation bill originated in the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.

“Maybe someday we’ll actually have health care bills coming through the health care committee,” she said.