An effort to pass legislation that attempts to clamp down on alleged deceptive advertising by crisis pregnancy centers in Connecticut has fizzled.

The bill died in the Senate after lawmakers failed to take the bill up for a vote, which previously cleared the House.

The bill would have prohibited the typically faith-based centers from making false or misleading statements about the services they provide, while allowing the Attorney General to seek a state order to stop such deceptive advertising. Opponents claimed the bill unlawfully violated free speech rights.

Proponents say some centers misrepresent themselves as medical facilities and are designed to discourage women from seeking abortion, claims the centers deny.

Kent Representative Maria Horn says some centers use the same typeface as known facilities that provide abortion services, their volunteers wear lab coats and clients are given a form that looks like a HIPAA form.  She says that paints an overall picture that this is a health center.