FL: 'Heartbeat' abortion ban approved by first Senate committee
A bill that would ban abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy cleared the Florida Senate’s Health Policy committee Monday.
That was the first of two Senate committees for one of the most controversial bills of the Legislative Session.
SB 300, filed by Fort Pierce Republican Sen. Erin Grall, would ban doctors from knowingly performing or inducing a termination of pregnancy after the sixth week of gestation. This would represent a change from the current 15-week threshold, which legislators hailed as a reasonable compromise when they passed it last year.
2022’s HB 5 made no exception for cases of rape and incest, a controversy at the time. However, the current bill would allow abortion up to the 15th week of pregnancy if the woman was impregnated by rape or incest or a combination thereof. Grall clarified in committee that a statutory rape would count as rape because minors cannot consent to sex legally.
“Where we are today is different than we were a year ago,” Grall said, noting the overturning of Roe v. Wade gave the states renewed ability to impose “the strongest protections for innocent life” possible, making Florida “a beacon of hope for those who understand that all life is sacred and must be protected.”
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/596636-heartbeat-abortion-ban-approved-by-first-senate-committee/
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