A Florida law sponsored by Republicans would forbid abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy

A Republican state legislator in Florida introduced a bill on Tuesday that would outlaw most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy to further restrict access to abortion.

According to NBC News, Florida now forbids abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy unless the mother or father’s life is in danger or the fetus has fatal defects. Rape or incest are not exceptions.

This window would be reduced to six weeks under the new law, SB 300, introduced by state senator Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach), who represents the area.

A restraining order, police report, medical record, or “other court order or documents” would need to be presented by the victims of rape or incest to demonstrate their eligibility under the bill’s exceptions.

According to Politico, similar legislation was presented on Tuesday in the Florida House of Representatives by state representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R-Fort Myers). Supermajorities of Republicans control both houses of the state legislature.

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is anticipated to declare his candidacy for president in 2024, said in February that he would approve a ban on abortions after six weeks.

“We’re for pro-life,” DeSantis declared at the time, reported WFLA. “We will sign,” I pleaded with the legislature, “so go to work.”

DeSantis reiterated his opposition to abortion in his “State of the State” speech on Tuesday, but he didn’t mention the new law.

During the speech, he declared, “We are pleased to be pro-family, and we are proud to be pro-life in Florida.

Meanwhile, the idea would affect millions of women, not only Floridians but also those living in adjacent states with more restrictive abortion laws, according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

According to Politico, Jean-Pierre stated, “We know that these bans are already having a disastrous impact on women’s health.

“Politicians like Governor DeSantis… proclaim freedom for all, unquote, while slamming the right to choose one’s health care in the most obvious way possible. Their rhetoric has implications in this situation.