An abortion bill will make its way to the Senate floor.
The bill, authored by Senators Angela Hill and Chris Caughman, would prohibit an abortion in Mississippi as soon as a fetus has a detectable heartbeat. An exception would only be made if the mother’s life was at risk.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, a heartbeat can typically be detected six weeks into a woman’s pregnancy.
After the bill advanced through the committee stage, Lt. Governor Tate Reeves thanked the Senators for introducing the bill.
“I thank Senators Hill and Caughman for introducing legislation to stop the barbaric practice of ending life in the womb even though a heartbeat is plainly detected,” Reeves said. “I am committed to making Mississippi the safest place in America for an unborn child.”
After recent controversy surrounding abortion bills in New York and Virginia, Governor Bryant took to Twitter to voice his support for a “heartbeat bill”.
It’s time to pass a Heart Beat Bill in Mississippi and stop this madness about when life begins. https://t.co/oMyA8jKOo8
— Phil Bryant (@PhilBryantMS) January 31, 2019
During last year’s session, a 15-week abortion ban was passed, but the bill was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. That decision is currently being appealed by the state.
