Republican lawmakers in Florida have voted in favour of a new bill that seeks to restrict access to abortions after the 15 week mark.
Senators have sent the bill to Governor Ron DeSantis, after much debate in the statehouse on the right to access proper reproductive healthcare in Florida. DeSantis himself has previously expressed his support for the bill and is expected by many to sign it into law, in a move akin to recent legislation changes in Mississippi, West Virginia and Arizona, PA reports.
The Mississippi law in particular is currently under review by the Supreme Court, and the US as a whole is awaiting a verdict. The ruling has the potential to overturn the historic Roe vs Wade case and have subsequent implications for access to abortions across the country.
Lori Berman, a Democrat Senator, said of the proposed legislation: “I want abortion to be legal safe and accessible but I fear this bill moves us in the other direction, forcing women with means to travel out of state and those struggling economically to resort to potentially dangerous options,” PA reports.
Florida’s radical 15 week abortion ban, #HB5, is scheduled for the Senate floor this Wednesday.
No exceptions for raped women. Low income families will be most afflicted.
On Wednesday, we’ll vote no. In November, we’ll vote NEXT. pic.twitter.com/FZY8TWeWo3
— Senator Lori Berman (@loriberman) March 1, 2022
Ahead of the vote in Florida, white house officials met with abortion rights advocacy groups as well as other state officials in order to discuss the rising prevalence of regulation change regarding access to abortion across the US.
The White House released a statement regarding the meeting: “In the face of these challenges, administration officials reiterated the administration’s commitment to exploring every option to protect reproductive health care.”
Currently the state of Florida allows abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.