The bill to ban abortion after 15 weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest just passed the Florida Senate. Governor DeSantis has already indicated his intention to sign this bill into law.
This bill is immoral. It inserts politics into private medical decisions that should be left to patients and their health care providers. By passing this bill, Florida Republicans have gone against the will of the majority of Floridians.
Ruth’s List is committed to electing Democratic pro-choice women across Florida, and today’s news makes our mission more urgent than ever. We’re recruiting, training, and supporting a record number of women this year, because we know the only way to stop Florida from sliding even further backwards is at the ballot box.
If this bill were to be signed into law today, it would be unconstitutional under the federal guidelines put forth by Roe v. Wade. But it’s very possible that the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade sometime in the coming months. And if that happens, state legislatures across the South and Midwest have similar abortion ban bills waiting to be implemented.
When this ban goes into effect in Florida on July 1, 2022, the nearest place to have an abortion after 15 weeks will be North Carolina. This outcome will further exacerbate barriers to care that disproportionately affect our most marginalized communities.
