A Florida House committee on Thursday voted to advance a bill that would restrict abortion to the first six weeks of pregnancy in nearly all cases, before some women know they’re pregnant — despite an ongoing lawsuit challenging a 15-week abortion cutoff that legislators passed last year.
Unlike the current 15-week ban, the six-week legislation, HB-7, does have exceptions for rape and incest, but only up until 15 weeks of gestation, and only if there is “documentation proving” the rape or incest, such as a restraining order, police report, medical record or court order.
After hearing sometimes tearful testimony from dozens of speakers, most of whom opposed the measure, the committee voted 13-5 along party lines in favor of the bill. Some speakers said they felt legislators weren’t listening to their concerns, with one commenter describing the hearing as a “circus.”
