On Thursday, Florida’s House of Representatives approved a ban on abortions after 15 weeks, following the pattern of other Republican-led states like Mississippi and Texas to restrict access to the procedure.
“The GOP-controlled House passed the 15-week abortion ban after several hours of debate between Democrats who said the measure would impose an unnecessary burden on women and Republicans who said they were protecting the unborn,” The New York Post reported. “Republicans in several state legislatures are moving to place new restrictions on abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court signaled it would uphold a Mississippi law prohibiting abortions after 15 weeks and potentially overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. A decision in that case is expected later this year.”
“This is the right to life and to give up life is unconscionable to me,” Florida Rep. Dana Trabulsy (R) said.
The bill contains exceptions if an abortion is necessary to save the mother’s life, prevent serious injury to the mother or if the baby has a fatal abnormality.
After a little more than five hours of debate— the Florida House approves HB 5, which bans abortions after 15 weeks. Exceptions for fatal conditions, not rape, incest, human trafficking. Vote largely along party lines with the GOP majority in favor. pic.twitter.com/SXASz2FLFm
— Forrest Saunders (@FBSaunders) February 17, 2022
The news comes as the Supreme Court is expected to soon announce its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization which involves a 2018 Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The Court is set to decide whether “all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortions are unconstitutional.”
