The Republican-led Senate of Florida approved Thursday a bill banning abortions after 15 weeks. This move brings the state closer to adopting a gestational ceiling currently being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The measure was approved by the state’s House of Representatives last month, with a Republican majority. The measure will be signed by Ron DeSantis (a Republican governor).
The bill’s passage would drastically reduce access to late-term abortions in the U.S. Southeast. Many women travel hundreds of miles to terminate pregnancies in Florida due to stricter abortion laws in neighboring states.
The state allows abortions up to 24 weeks after pregnancy, without any waiting period. This means that a woman can end her pregnancy as soon as she arrives at a clinic.
Florida’s new measure, which will take effect July 1, allows for exceptions to the 15 week restriction in certain cases. These include when the mother is at high risk of death or “irreversible medical impairment” or if there is a fatal abnormality.
On Wednesday, Republicans defeated an amend that would have allowed for exceptions for human trafficking, incest, and rape.
