Abortion ban after 15 weeks signed into law in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a 15-week abortion ban into legislation Thursday as the point out joined a rising conservative force to limit obtain to the treatment forward of a U.S. Supreme Court docket determination that could roll back again abortion legal rights in The united states.

“This will stand for the most important protections for everyday living that have been enacted in this condition in a technology,” DeSantis stated as he signed the bill at an evangelical church in the metropolis of Kissimmee.

Republicans nationwide have moved to put new limitations on abortion following the U.S. Supreme Court signaled it would uphold a Mississippi legislation banning abortions following 15 weeks. The substantial court’s decision, expected this summertime, could perhaps weaken or overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 selection that founded a nationwide ideal to abortion.

The law DeSantis signed Thursday bargains a significant blow to in general abortion obtain in the South, in which Florida has presented broader access to the process than its regional neighbors.

The new law, which will take impact July 1, contains exceptions if the abortion is needed to preserve a mother’s lifestyle, stop severe injury or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. It does not make it possible for for exemptions in scenarios wherever pregnancies were being triggered by rape, incest or human trafficking, inspite of numerous Democratic makes an attempt to amend the monthly bill. Beneath existing legislation, Florida will allow abortions up to 24 months.

Discussion over the proposal grew deeply personalized and revealing within the legislature, as lawmakers recalled their personal abortions and encounters with sexual assault in usually tearful speeches on the Household and Senate flooring. Republicans have repeatedly known as the 15-7 days ban acceptable, citing point out stats that display only 6% of Florida’s abortions last yr happened just after the 1st trimester, or following the 11th 7 days.

Democrats have been swift to criticize the new regulation right after the signing.

“Politicians have no organization finding concerning a affected person and her medical doctor,” mentioned House Democratic Leader Evan Jenne. “This 15-week abortion ban usually takes absent each and every woman’s correct to make personal choices that should only be designed by on their own, with their family members, their doctor, and their religion.”

The laws came a several months immediately after the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative the vast majority indicated it would uphold Mississippi’s 15-week ban. There also has been significant help amid the conservative justices for finding rid of Roe altogether.

If Roe is overturned, 26 states are specified or probably to immediately ban or severely limit abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a consider tank that supports abortion legal rights. During the discussion over the Florida legislation, as nicely as at the bill’s signing ceremony, Republicans said they want the condition to be well positioned to limit accessibility to abortions if the Supreme Court docket upholds Mississippi’s regulation.

“The fact of the Roe conclusion is that men on the Supreme Court docket proclaimed that ladies, in order to obtain equality with guys, should be able to kill their possess youngsters,” mentioned Republican Rep. Erin Grall, the bill’s sponsor. “As a woman, I refuse to take these a perverse edition of equality.”

In other places in the U.S., Republican lawmakers have launched new abortion limits, some similar to a Texas legislation that bans abortion soon after approximately six months and leaves enforcement up to non-public citizens.

Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt not long ago signed a invoice to make it a felony to carry out an abortion, punishable by up to a 10 years in prison. Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in March signed laws to outlaw abortion right after 15 months if the U.S. Supreme Court leaves Mississippi’s regulation in spot.