Arkansas House approves tightening abortion ban to 18 weeks
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— The Arkansas House on Monday approved a proposal to ban abortion 18 weeks into a woman's pregnancy, moving the state closer toward enacting what could be the strictest prohibition in the country.
Without any debate, the majority-Republican House approved the ban by a 77-13 vote. Arkansas already has some of the strictest abortion limits in the country and bans the procedure 20 weeks into a woman's pregnancy. The bill advanced Monday includes an exemption for medical emergencies, but not for rape or incest. The 18-week ban now heads to the majority-Republican Senate.
"We're pulling it back two weeks," Republican Rep. Robin Lundstrum told lawmakers before the vote.
Arkansas' Republican governor last week signed into law another measure that would ban abortion in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing the procedure nationwide. Gov. Asa Hutchinson has not said whether he'd sign the 18-week ban if it reaches his desk.
Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2019/feb/26/arkansas-house-approves-tightening-abortion-ban-18-weeks/767334/
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