


Florida lawmakers passed a six-week abortion ban Thursday that will now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for final approval.
The state’s Republican-led House of Representatives voted to replace Florida’s current 15-week abortion prohibition, with backers basing the new timeframe on the development of a fetal heartbeat.
Advertisement
DeSantis, who has already argued in favor of the law, is expected to sign it into existence and cement himself in deeper in with conservatives ahead of his likely 2024 presidential run.
The revamped ban includes exceptions for when a woman’s life or health is at dire risk due to the pregnancy, fatal fetal abnormalities and in cases of rape or incest, under certain conditions.
The “Heartbeat Protection Act” has been met with fierce resistance from Democratic lawmakers, who cast it as a grave violation of women’s rights.
Protesters loudly chanted their opposition in the House’s public gallery Thursday, leading to a 15-minute recess to restore order.
Advertisement
Heavily outnumbered Florida Democratic House members joined the objectors just outside the chamber to sing “Lean on Me” at one point.
The bill, which passed the Florida Senate last week, comfortably prevailed Thursday by a margin of 70 to 40, with the vote falling on party lines.
The bill specifies that doctors who violate the ban would face a third-degree felony charge.
Advertisement
Once signed by DeSantis, the law will activate only if the current 15-week ban survives a legal challenge by the Center for Reproductive Rights and other pro-choice groups in the Florida Supreme Court.
“Across the country, pregnant people are being pushed to the brink of death because they can’t get an abortion,” said Elisabeth Smith, the organization’s director of state policy and advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights.

“Yet Florida lawmakers have rushed this dangerous ban through the legislature with no concern for their citizens and how it will harm them.”
Advertisement
But Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner argued in favor of the tightened restrictions earlier this week.
“When a child has a heartbeat, I think that’s when people say, ‘Wait a minute, this is something different,’” he told Politico.