Florida Legislature Passes Six-Week Abortion Ban, Sending it to Governor DeSantis for Signature

Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature passed a bill on Thursday that would ban most abortions after six weeks, sending it to Governor Ron DeSantis for signature. The bill, SB 300, passed in the House with a 70-40 vote along party lines, following the state Senate’s passage of the bill on April 3.

The legislation not only bans abortion after six weeks, but also prohibits telehealth for abortion care and allots $25 million annually for deceptive anti-abortion pregnancy centers. Democrats in the chamber opposed the legislation, but were vastly outnumbered by Republican supermajorities in both chambers.

DeSantis is expected to sign the ban into law, but it won’t go into effect until the Florida Supreme Court rules on a challenge to the state’s current 15-week ban on abortion. Abortion rights groups are not optimistic about that ruling, given that DeSantis stacked the court with conservative judges after three longtime justices retired in recent years.

The six-week abortion ban has been a contentious issue in Florida, with both sides of the debate passionately arguing their points. If DeSantis signs the bill, it will become the most restrictive abortion law in the country. The bill’s passage is a major victory for anti-abortion activists, who have been pushing for the legislation for years.