Florida Republican legislators have introduced legislation to ban abortion after 15 weeks of gestation. This measure is similar to a Mississippi near-total abortion ban that is currently being upheld in the U.S. Supreme Court.
The ban was introduced on Tuesday by State Sen. Kelli Stargell (R) and Rep. Erin Grall (R)The law does not allow for incest or rape. If a woman’s pregnancy is threatening their life or if they are at high risk of death or serious injury, then an abortion would be allowed after the 15-week mark.
If the measure is passed, it would be one of the most restrictive abortion bans anywhere in the country. Florida bans abortions after 24 weeks.
The proposal, which was submitted on the first day of the Florida legislature’s 2022 session, was inserted quietly into another bill meant to revise the state’s tobacco education and prevention program. In addition to restricting abortion access, the legislation would require medical facilities to report “the number of infants born alive or alive immediately after an attempted abortion” – a measure that gives undue weight to a false narrative pushed by anti-abortion activists.
On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, R., indicated that he would approve the legislation if it reached his desk. This position was condemned by Democrats, who noted the irony of DeSantis proclaiming Florida to be the “freest” state in the nation during his State of the State speech earlier this year.
“If Florida is truly a free state, free our women and leave them the hell alone,” said Sen. Shevrin Jones (D).
Anna Eskamani, State Representative, noted that if this legislation passed, the nearest abortion facility to many Florida residents would be in North Carolina, two states away.
“And when you get to North Carolina, you have to go through their 72-hour wait period. So, you can imagine the cost associated with that,” Eskamani said.
The ban would be in violation of the precedent established. Roe v. WadeThe landmark Supreme Court decision that established abortion access protections in the United States was titled. But The current conservative-led Court of 6-3 may be poised for a change in those precedentsIf recent statements are any indication,
The 2022 midterms will likely see a significant role for reproductive justice, especially if the Court abruptly changes the abortion precedent that has been in effect for almost five decades. Most Americans support keeping Roe intact, with an ABC News/Washington Post poll last fallIt was found that 60% of voters supported the ruling and only 27% wanted it to be overturned.