Members of the Florida House of Representatives approved a ban on abortion after 15 weeks on Thursday, making Florida the third state to advance a 15-week abortion plan. The decision comes ahead of the Supreme Court decision regarding the Mississippi law that has the ability to limit abortion rights across the country by overturning Roe v. Wade, the Associated Press reported.
Florida’s 15-week ban is modeled on that Mississippi law. The state’s GOP-controlled House passed the ban after several hours of debate in which Democrats argued the measure would create an undue burden on women.
Florida currently allows abortions until 24 weeks of pregnancy. According to NPR, while about 3.5% of abortions in Florida happen after 15 weeks, the result is still thousands of pregnancies.
“This is the right to life and to give up life is unconscionable to me,” said Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy, a supporter of the bill. Trabulsy also shared that while she has previously had an abortion, she has “regretted it everyday since.”
Republicans also described the ban as a “very reasonable” and “generous” alternative to the current six-week ban effective in Texas.
“I believe we have a unique opportunity in the fact that the Supreme Court is considering 15 weeks right now,” Rep. Erin Grall said. “This would allow Florida to save as many babies as possible as soon as possible after that decision is made.”
While bill supporters claim the bill “protects” all lives, it clearly disregards that of the pregnant person. An amendment to include an exception for rape, human trafficking, and incest survivors was denied. Instead, the only exceptions are for the life of the mother and for “fatal fetal anomalies.”
“As a woman it is my right to make decisions about my body and what is in the best interest of my family,” said Rep. Robin Bartleman, a Democrat. “God forbid your 11 year old is raped and pregnant and you find out after 15 weeks, you don’t get to get your daughter that abortion, that’s what this law says.”
According to Dr. Samantha Deans, an associate medical director with Planned Parenthood in Florida, most fetal anomalies aren't detected by 15 weeks, NPR reported. But the law requires that if one is discovered after 15 weeks, at least two doctors need to certify the baby would not survive long after birth before an abortion would be permitted.
"You cannot perform an amniocentesis until the second trimester and generally speaking, we don't perform an amniocentesis until 16 to 20 weeks," Deans told NPR. "That's just a medical fact."
According to The Washington Post, the bill will now move to the Florida Senate on Monday, where it is expected to pass before going to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk. DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law as he has openly expressed his support against abortions.
“It’s clear they know what they’re doing is robbing Floridians of their constitutionally protected freedoms,” said Olivia Cappello, press officer for state media campaigns at Planned Parenthood, according to the Post.