Over the past few months, multiple states have passed laws that greatly restrict or all but outlaw abortion, in large part as a way to challenge and possibly overturn the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade.
Many activists and politicians saw the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court as creating a pro-life majority on the highest court that could overturn Roe.
Several states have considered increased restrictions on abortion, especially bans on abortions once the heartbeat of an unborn baby is detected. Both Missouri and Louisiana are close to passing such laws.
Here are 5 states that have recently passed restrictive laws against abortion. These include laws that ban abortion when an unborn baby’s heartbeat can be detected and one law that makes abortion a felony.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 314 into law. Also called the Alabama Human Life Protection Act, the law makes it a felony to perform abortions save when the life of the mother is threatened in a medical emergency.
Earlier this month, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 481, also known as “The Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act.”
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed Senate Bill 9 into law in March, after the measure was passed overwhelmingly by the state Legislature. Also called the “Fetal Heartbeat Bill,” the new law bans abortions after a heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed Senate Bill 2116 into law on March 21. The measure bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, with an exemption for when a mother faces a life-threatening medical emergency in which the baby cannot be saved.
In April, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 23, or the Ohio Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act, into law.
