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.

 <div class="ad__wrapper"> <div class="ad__placeholder ad__placeholder--skeleton ad__placeholder--small"> <div class="ad-slot skeleton skeleton--ad skeleton--div-gpt-ad-inline_1"> <div class="dfp-div-gpt-ad-inline_1 dfp-ad-post" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">  </div>
</div> </div> <p class="ad__label">Advertisement</p> </div>


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. 

<a href="https://nypost.com/2023/04/13/court-rules-abortion-pill-can-remain-legal-but-adds-restrictions/">The revamped ban </a>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. 

 <div class="ad__wrapper"> <div class="ad__placeholder ad__placeholder--skeleton ad__placeholder--small"> <div class="ad-slot skeleton skeleton--ad skeleton--div-gpt-ad-inline_2"> <div class="dfp-div-gpt-ad-inline_2 dfp-ad-post" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">  </div>
</div> </div> <p class="ad__label">Advertisement</p> </div>


<a href="https://nypost.com/2023/01/23/kamala-harris-slammed-for-omitting-right-to-life-when-referencing-declaration-of-independence/">Heavily outnumbered Florida Democratic</a> 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.

<button class="button button--modal-trigger " aria-label="Open the image in a modal." data-modal-image="26583660"> 
</button>
<figcaption>Representatives voted to replace Florida’s current 16-week abortion prohibition, with backer contending that a fetus develops a heartbeat at six weeks.</figcaption><figcaption><span class="credit">REUTERS</span></figcaption>

The bill specifies that <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/06/24/supreme-court-overturns-roe-v-wade/">doctors who violate the ban</a> would face a third-degree felony charge. 

 <div class="ad__wrapper"> <div class="ad__placeholder ad__placeholder--skeleton ad__placeholder--small"> <div class="ad-slot skeleton skeleton--ad skeleton--div-gpt-ad-inline_3"> <div class="dfp-div-gpt-ad-inline_3 dfp-ad-post" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">  </div>
</div> </div> <p class="ad__label">Advertisement</p> </div>


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. 

<button class="button button--modal-trigger " aria-label="Open the image in a modal." data-modal-image="26583658"> 
</button>
<img data-modal-image="26583658" loading="lazy" width="100%" height="auto" src="https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="Gov. Ron DeSantis" class="wp-image-26583658" srcset="https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1967w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=300,200&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=768,512&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 768w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=1024,682&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=1536,1024&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1536w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=1064,709&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1064w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=375,250&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 375w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=878,585&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 878w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=744,496&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 744w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=135,90&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 135w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=576,384&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 576w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=457,305&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 457w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=440,293&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 440w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=424,282&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 424w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=389,260&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 389w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=360,240&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 360w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=340,227&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 340w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=320,213&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 320w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=314,209&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 314w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=306,204&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 306w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=280,187&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 280w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=260,174&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 260w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=246,164&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 246w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=234,156&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 234w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=195,130&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 195w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=180,120&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 180w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=171,114&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 171w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=160,107&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 160w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=144,96&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 144w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=140,93&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 140w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=107,71&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 107w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=93,62&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 93w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=84,56&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 84w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=200,133&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=600,400&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 600w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=150,100&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 150w, https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009464626-1.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"><figcaption>The state Republican-led House of Florida lawmakers on Thursday passed a six-week abortion ban that will now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for final approval.</figcaption><figcaption><span class="credit">AP</span></figcaption>

“Yet Florida lawmakers have rushed this dangerous ban through the legislature with no concern for their citizens and how it will harm them.”

 <div class="ad__wrapper"> <div class="ad__placeholder ad__placeholder--skeleton ad__placeholder--small"> <div class="ad-slot skeleton skeleton--ad skeleton--div-gpt-ad-inline_4"> <div class="dfp-div-gpt-ad-inline_4 dfp-ad-post" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">  </div>
</div> </div> <p class="ad__label">Advertisement</p> </div>


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,’” <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/06/desantis-pushes-abortion-ban-00090920" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">he told Politico</a>.

Florida lawmakers on Thursday passed a six-week abortion ban that will now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for final approval.