WSNN- After hours of debate, a 15-week abortion ban will head to the Senate floor next week.
House Bill 5, otherwise known as the “Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality” bill passed through the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee Monday. The bill would ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
“The un-born child at 15 weeks has eyebrows, it’s formed, Senator Stargel said earlier, feels pain so that makes a lot of sense,” said Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, (R) of Naples.
“Incest, rape and human trafficking, being excluded from any discussion in this bill, is huge for me, and I just can’t support it,” said Se. Linda Stewart (D) of Orlando.
The proposed bill revises the purpose and requirements for tobacco use and prevention and creates local fetal and infant mortality review committees.
One of the most controversial parts of the bill is the 15-week abortion ban, as it includes no exceptions for rape, incest, or human trafficking. The only exclusions are if a mother’s life is in danger or the fetus has fatal abnormalities, which would first have to be approved by two doctors.
“The poor, black girl on the west side of my district that can’t tell her single mom, that she’s pregnant, that’s who I’m here for,” said Sen. Jason Pizzo (D) of Miami.
“What we did with this bill is point to 15 weeks, because that’s again what senator Passidomo said is when a baby feels pain, this isn’t about me and my personal belief that on life begins at conception, it comes from us and protecting vulnerable people and the potentiality of life,” said Sen Kelli Stargel (R) of Lakeland.
House Bill 5, will head to the Senate Floor next week. If the bill passes through the Senate, it would head to Governor Ron DeSantis’ desk.
Florida law currently bans abortion in the third trimester.
Florida now joins West Virginia and Arizona in the advancing of a 15-week abortion ban bill this session.