Enlarge / The bill, passed Tuesday, now moves on to Ohio Governor John Kasich to sign into law or veto. (credit: Getty | Leigh Vogel )
Emboldened by President-elect Donald Trump, Ohio lawmakers have passed what stands to be the most restrictive anti-abortion legislation in the country.
The so-called “heartbeat” bill would make abortions illegal if a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as around six weeks into a pregnancy. The bill does not include exceptions for cases of rape or incest, but it does allow abortions if the mother’s life is in jeopardy.
The bill violates current constitutional standards for abortion rights, and similar measures in Arkansas and North Dakota have already been struck down by federal courts. Nevertheless, the state’s Senate and House passed the bill Tuesday as part of unrelated legislation dealing with how child abuse is reported. It now moves to Gov. John Kasich to sign into law.
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Source: Ars Technica – “Trumpmania” abortion battle begins: Ohio passes extreme heartbeat bill