WASHINGTON —Bills to protect unborn children passed in both Florida and Idaho on Monday.
In Florida, with all Republicans voting in favor, the Senate passed CS/HB 5 “Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality” which would protect unborn children from abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy except for severe fetal anomaly or to save the mother’s life or prevent a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition. The bill will go to the Governor’s desk for his signature.
In Idaho, the “Fetal Heartbeat Bill” (S. 1309) passed the Idaho House in a vote of 51 to 14 and is expected to be signed by the Governor. Modeled after Texas S.B. 8, the Idaho bill is designed to protect unborn children whose hearts have begun to beat, usually at about 6 weeks of pregnancy. Under Idaho’s bill, only the abortionist can be sued. In addition, enforcement is limited to family members.
In both cases, National Right Life’s state affiliates, Florida Right to Life and Right to Life of Idaho, worked with state legislators to see these protective laws enacted.
“We praise Florida Right to Life and Right to Life of Idaho for their hard work in seeing these laws passed,” said Tobias. “No unborn child should suffer a ghastly death by abortion. These bills will go far in protecting unborn children and their mothers from the horrors of abortion.”
For more information about such laws in the states, download National Right to Life’s fact sheet here.
