Indiana has become the first state to approve an abortion ban post Roe.
The Indiana legislature on Friday was the first in the nation to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Lawmakers passed the Senate Bill banning all abortion except in cases of rape, incest or medical emergency 28-19 in the Senate, just hours after House members advanced it 62-38.
Governor Eric Holcomb (R) quickly signed the measure into law and will take effect from September 15th.
BREAKING: Indiana lawmakers have passed legislation banning all abortions except in cases of rape, incest or medical emergency.
This is the first ban on abortion passed since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 6, 2022
AP reported:
The ban, which takes effect Sept. 15, includes some exceptions. Abortions would be permitted in cases of rape and incest, before 10-weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and physical health of the mother; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Victims of rape and incest would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack, as had once been proposed.
Under the bill, abortions can be performed only in hospitals or outpatient centers owned by hospitals, meaning all abortion clinics would lose their licenses. A doctor who performs an illegal abortion or fails to file required reports must also lose their medical license — wording that tightens current Indiana law that says a doctor “may” lose their license.
“I am personally most proud of each Hoosier who came forward to courageously share their views in a debate that is unlikely to cease any time soon,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in the statement announcing that he had signed the measure. “For my part as your governor, I will continue to keep an open ear.”
After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, Indiana was among the earliest Republican-run state legislatures to debate tighter abortion laws.
“Happy to be completed with this, one of the more challenging things that we’ve ever done as a state General Assembly, at least certainly while I’ve been here,” Senate President Pro-Tem Rodric Bray told reporters after the vote.
“I think this is a huge opportunity, and we’ll build on that as we go forward from here.”
Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara of Evansville, who sponsored the House bill, told reporters after the House vote that the legislation “makes Indiana one of the most pro-life states in the nation.”
Pro-abortion activists protested outside the chambers, carrying signs like “Roe roe roe your vote” and “Build this wall” between church and state.
“Some House Democrats wore blazers over pink “Bans Off Our Bodies” T-shirts,” according to AP.
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