Despite outrage from women’s rights groups, the Florida Senate approved a bill banning abortions after six weeks.
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has long backed stricter abortion statutes, and if the bill makes it to his desk, he is expected to sign it into law. Most Republican-run states have begun implementing harsher restrictions for abortions, which has set off protests and lawsuits by experts and activists. The current Florida abortion laws prohibit the procedure after 15 weeks.
Florida’s new proposal will only allow exceptions only for victims of rape or incest or if the mother’s life is at risk. Still, no exceptions will automatically be made if the mother is past 15 weeks. If an abortion is required for medical reasons beyond the 15-week mark, written documentation from a doctor or a police report must be provided.
Following the Senate’s approval of the bill, Democratic Sen. Lauren Book pleaded with expectant mothers not to seek out illegal abortions. She urged women to contact her office to be connected with qualified doctors.
“Please don’t take matters into your own hands. Do not put your safety at risk. No back-alley abortions. There are people and funds that will help you,” Book announced on the Senate floor before reading off her office telephone number.
If the six-week ban is signed into law, Florida will join several southern states with some of the harshest abortion laws, such as Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and others. The House’s final decision on the bill will likely coincide with DeSantis announcing his presidential run, establishing where his principles lie early as he works to win over Republicans nationwide.
