The Florida Senate passed a bill Monday that would ban most abortions after six weeks gestation and punish medical professionals who knowingly perform a prohibited abortion with up to five years in prison. However, there are exceptions in cases where a “woman obtaining the abortion is doing so because she is a victim of rape, incest, or human trafficking,” or “the fetus has a fatal fetal abnormality.”
The Senate stated in a press release that the purpose of the Heartbeat Protection Act is to protect “innocent, unborn life.” Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said:
The Heartbeat Protection Act builds on Florida’s strong track record of protecting the most vulnerable, especially the unborn, and strengthens state efforts to promote adoption, and support families… Our bill also includes strong and clear exceptions for rape, incest, and human trafficking, in addition to those already available for the life of the mother. We also clarify the existing exception for the horrible situation when parents are facing the heartbreaking diagnosis of a fatal fetal abnormality.
Kate Gross, the ACLU of Florida’s legislative director and senior policy counsel, said in a statement:
This bill will force pregnant individuals to remain pregnant against their will and endure labor, delivery, and all of the significant medical and financial risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. This bill will unfairly and disproportionately impact people who live in rural communities, people with low incomes, people with disabilities, and people of color.
Florida Senator Linda Stewart in a press release also stated:
The six-week ban is an insult to women and a direct attack on our fundamental and reproductive healthcare rights. I trust women to be able to make their own decisions in life and decide what is best for themselves.
The Heartbeat Protection Act comes one year after Florida enacted a ban on abortions after 15-weeks gestation. The bill has to be approved by the Florida House and be signed by Governor Ron DeSantis before becoming law.
