Originally published April 13, 2023 9:00 am PDT
Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature on Thursday passed a contentious bill banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, according to a report from The Associated Press.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a prominent GOP figure, has expressed his support for the proposal and is expected to sign the bill into law.
Current Florida law prohibits abortions after 15 weeks.
Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, the bill’s sponsor in the House, stated, “We have the opportunity to lead the national debate about the importance of protecting life and giving every child the opportunity to be born and find his or her purpose.”
The bill does include some exceptions, such as when the mother’s life is at risk, and abortions resulting from rape or incest are permitted up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, given that the woman provides documentation like a restraining order or police report.
The Florida bill also stipulates that drugs used in medication-induced abortions, which account for the majority of abortions nationwide, can only be administered in person or by a physician.
The six-week ban in Florida will only come into effect if the existing 15-week ban is upheld by the state Supreme Court, which is currently dominated by conservatives, AP notes.
Republican Rep. Mike Beltran praised the bill, saying, “I can’t think of any bill that’s going to provide more protections to more people who are more vulnerable than this piece of legislation.”
