MIAMI – Florida’s six-week abortion ban will take effect Wednesday and will replace an existing law that allows abortions at up to 15 weeks.
Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 300, also known as the “Heartbeat Protection Act,” which was recently upheld by the Florida Supreme Court and is now in effect, impacting families across the Southeast.
The law imposes a six-week abortion limit, joining other states that either ban abortion or restrict it to this narrow timeframe, often before women are aware they are pregnant.
Approximately one in nine or 10 pregnancy terminations in Florida this year were for women traveling from more restrictive states.
Currently, Virginia remains the sole state in the Southeast where abortions are legal.
“Across the Deep South, there will be nowhere people can go to get the care they need and deserve,” said U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Georgia.
Although Florida’s new law is titled “Pregnancy and Parenting Support,” it primarily focuses on the six-week limit for pregnancy termination, with exceptions for victims of sex crimes and potentially fatal medical complications. It also allocates millions for pregnancy and maternal support programs.
DeSantis stated that the court’s ruling aligns with the goal of providing protections for fetal heartbeats, deeming it “noble and constitutional.”
Florida’s abortion debate reflects the broader national discourse, spanning from those with faith-based opposition to abortion to those advocating for the right to make their own healthcare decisions.
Regardless of political affiliation, there is a consensus among some, like Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, the state’s former agriculture secretary, who believe that politicians should not dictate discussions about abortion.
“Regardless (of) if you’re Republican, Democrat or Independent, politicians should not be in this conversation,” she said.