In South Carolina, lawmakers removed exceptions for rape and incest from a “heartbeat” abortion bill.
What We Know:
- In South Carolina, a “heartbeat” abortion bill advanced after Republican lawmakers removed exceptions for rape and incest. Lawmakers voted to strike the exceptions after they were included in a House bill that passed in a 70-31 vote earlier this year.
- The bill would ban abortions in the state after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Typically, this happens as early as six to eight weeks after conception. The bill was passed by the committee with a 4-3 vote.
- Under the proposed legislation, doctors who perform abortions after a heartbeat is detected could face criminal charges. The bill does include an exception if the pregnancy puts the mother’s life at risk.
- Republican State Senator Richard Cash, who proposed removing the exceptions for rape and incest from the bill, was unfazed by the fact that a federal court recently struck down a similar law that was passed in Georgia.
The bill will officially advance through the full Senate committee when it hears the bill next month.
