The Florida Senate approved a bill on Monday that allows legal abortion to be limited to the first six weeks of pregnancy, a period that opponents of the bill point out that many women do not even know they are pregnant.
The approval was given with 26 votes in favor and 13 against, after the approval of the Republican majority of the bill SB 300, introduced by Senator Erin Grall last March.
The proposal could again limit the right to abortion in the state that is governed by the conservative Ron DeSantis, who was re-elected in 2022, and could be a Republican option in the race for the White House in 2024.
Republican Senator Grall’s proposal noted that exceptions are contemplated for pregnant women as a result of rape or incest.
As of July 1, 2022, you can only legally abort in Florida up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, leaving behind the law that established that it could be from 24 weeks.
“Just over a year after reducing the number of weeks to obtain an abortion to 15 (weeks), the legislature has decided to once again address the issue of women’s bodily autonomy by seeking to reduce the already limited time restriction to only six weeks,” said Democratic Orange County Sen. Linda Stewart.
This bill limits access to medications that are used to induce an abortion by prohibiting the use of telehealth services and requiring in-person appointments, Stewart’s statement said.
“Many women may not be able to confirm their pregnancy until the fourth week, and now the state of Florida expects them to get appointments with two doctors and make this important decision in just a couple of weeks?” the Democratic senator wondered.
The measure approved by the Senate today still must be approved by the state House of Representatives before it reaches the governor’s desk for signature, but it is expected to go ahead.
With information from the EFE agency