DeSantis and FL Republicans Propose Bill to Ban Abortions After Six Weeks of Pregnancy

Although Gov. Ron DeSantis did not refer to or comment on the proposed bill during his March 7 speech, he has previously signaled his support for the legislation and during a February briefing said he would readily sign it.

During the first moments of the state’s 60-day 2023 legislative session that began on Tuesday, Florida Republicans filed legislation to impose a six-week abortion ban. 

The proposal was introduced by Republican state Sen. Erin Grall. That same day, Republican state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka also filed a six-week abortion ban in her chamber.

Though Gov. Ron DeSantis did not refer to or comment on the proposed bill during his March 7 speech, he has previously signaled his support for the legislation. In a February briefing, the governor said he would approve a so-called “heartbeat bill” that would ban abortions after six weeks, adding that he would sign the bill if it reached his desk.

“We’re for pro-life. I urge the legislature to work, produce good stuff, and we will sign,” DeSantis said at the time. 

What Is in the New Bill

Among other things, SB 300 (Pregnancy and Parenting Support) would prohibit “physicians from knowingly performing or inducing a termination of pregnancy after the gestational age of the fetus is determined to be more than 6 weeks, rather than 15 weeks.” 

Florida currently prohibits almost all abortions after 15 weeks. These restrictions were put in place in July, even as the state appealed after a judge ruled that the law violated the state’s constitution.

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The bill includes exceptions for rape and incest. In these cases, the pregnancy can’t be further than 15 weeks along. Additionally, the woman is required to provide a police report, a restraining order, a court order, or other documentation. 

The legislation also includes exceptions if the procedure is needed to save the life of the mother under specific conditions. For example, two doctors, if available, would have to certify that an abortion is needed to prevent the woman’s death or “avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.”

The bill also prohibits any person other than a physician from inducing a termination of pregnancy; requires that medications intended for use in a medical abortion be dispensed in person by a physician, and prohibits the dispensing of such medication through the United States Postal Service or any other courier or shipping service, etc. 

The White House Responds

The Biden administration promptly responded during a briefing on Tuesday.

“Republican state legislators in Florida proposed today a bill that would ban abortion before many women know if they are even pregnant, virtually eliminating a woman’s right to make healthcare decisions about her own body,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, adding that the Republican ban would also affect women in southern states who rely on Florida as an “option to access care.”

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Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani, who in January organized a rally in Orlando as part of a national weekend of action for abortion rights, wrote on Twitter that it is “disgusting to force people to leave their home state to seek reproductive care and abortion access. Also need to remember that not every person will have the financial resources to leave their state in the first place! Abortion bans hurt those already marginalized the most.”

Press Secretary Jean-Pierre went on to assure that President Biden and Vice President Harris believe women “should be able to make healthcare decisions with their own doctors and families, free from political interference.” 

According to the press secretary, the president and vice president remain committed to protecting access to reproductive care and continue to call on Congress “to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade [the overruled Supreme Court abortion decision].”