May 2, 2024
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Legislature on Thursday approved a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a proposal supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law. Florida currently prohibits abortions after 15 weeks.
The bill contains some exceptions, including to save the woman's life. Abortions for pregnancies involving rape or incest would be allowed until 15 weeks of pregnancy, provided a woman has documentation such as a restraining order or police report. DeSantis has called the rape and incest provisions sensible.
Drugs used in medication-induced abortions — which make up the majority of those provided nationally — could be dispensed only in person or by a physician under the Florida bill.
Florida's six-week ban would take effect only if the state's current 15-week ban is upheld in an ongoing legal challenge that is before the state Supreme Court.
“I can’t think of any bill that’s going to provide more protections to more people who are more vulnerable than this piece of legislation,” said Republican Rep. Mike Beltran, who said the bill’s exceptions and six-week timeframe represented a compromise.
