SW News: Proclaiming that every life is worthy from conception, the Senate of the US state of Florida passed legislation on Monday, April 3, prohibiting termination of pregnancy after six weeks of gestation. The Republican-led Senate passed the proposal in 26-13 party-line votes. With SB 300, the Sunshine State moved closer to joining other US states in outlawing nearly all abortions. Until now, abortions have been prohibited in Florida after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

However, the proposal contains exceptions allowing abortions in rape and incest situations. In such cases, the women have to submit medical reports and the police report. In addition, termination of pregnancy is allowed when the mother's life or health, excluding psychological health, is in grave danger.

The bill introduced by Erin Grall reiterated a medically debatable assertion that baby heartbeats could be heard as early as six weeks of pregnancy, defending the proposal. Next week, the House is anticipated to discuss the matter. With a supermajority of Republicans in the Legislature, the bill is expected to have no difficulties reaching Governor Ron DeSantis. The governor has signaled his support to sign the bill into law.

The new bill will take effect only if the state's 15-week restriction is sustained in an ongoing legal dispute before the state Supreme Court. According to state records, 75,118 of the 82,192 abortions in Florida last year were in the first trimester, before 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Many pro-abortion activists protested outside the City Hall against the proposed abortion legislation decrying that it is a near-total ban on abortions. After the Supreme Court decided on Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization overturning the federal right to abortion, Florida has been a shelter for women seeking abortions from neighboring states.