GOV. ABBOTT SIGNS ‘FETAL HEARTBEAT’ BILL BANNING ABORTIONS AS EARLY AS SIX WEEKS
Governor Greg Abbott has signed into law a bill prohibiting abortions as early as six weeks.
(courtesy Office of Governor Greg Abbott)
The law signed today (Wednesday) makes Texas the largest of over a dozen states that ban abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat.
While court challenges have prevented most abortion measures from being enforced, the U.S. Supreme Court announced this week that it would hear a case concerning a law in Mississippi that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Texas’ version disallows state officials from enforcing the abortion ban, instead giving the authority to private citizens to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps someone get an abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. Citizens would not have to be connected to an abortion provider or patient in order to sue.
The law does make exception for medical emergencies, but not in cases of rape or incest.
The new law takes effect September 1st.