Florida Senate Passes 15-Week Abortion Ban
March 5, 2022 | Florida
A Republican-led bill banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy in Florida is one step closer to becoming law, as U.S. states prepare for a Supreme Court decision that could change the abortion-rights landscape nationwide.
The legislation, which passed the state Senate Thursday night in a 23-15 vote, mirrors the Mississippi law at the center of a case being weighed by the Supreme Court and that challenges the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to end a pregnancy. Florida’s House of Representatives had approved the bill in a 78-39 vote in mid-February.
The bill now moves to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis. A spokesperson for the Republican governor said Mr. DeSantis looks forward to the bill reaching his desk. “I think that we’ll be able to sign that in short order,” Mr. DeSantis said during a press conference on Friday. If signed, the legislation would take effect July 1.
GOP lawmakers in Arizona and West Virginia are also pushing bills that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy in anticipation of the coming Supreme Court decision. The legislation, if passed, would allow the states to more easily and quickly enforce laws similar to Mississippi’s should the high court uphold that 15-week ban, lawmakers say. The bills in both Arizona and West Virginia have passed one chamber in the state legislatures. … (Excerpt from the Wall Street Journal)
