Florida Senate ready to take up bill banning abortion after 15 weeks

Florida senators soon will start considering a proposal that would prevent physicians from performing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, one of the most-controversial issues of the 2022 legislative session.

The Senate Health Policy Committee is scheduled Wednesday to take up the proposal (SB 146), filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland. The proposal is modeled after a Mississippi law that is being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Previous coverage:

• Reproductive rights activists, groups vow to take fight over recently filed abortion bill to streets, elections

• Speakers debate abortion in 30-second chunks as Florida's controversial bill gets early OK

• 'Eliminated entirely or radically overhauled': A Q&A with abortion law expert Mary Ziegler on Roe v. Wade

Justices heard arguments last month in the case, which could overturn or scale back the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion-rights decision.

A House version of the Florida bill (HB 5), sponsored by Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, and Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, was approved Thursday in a 10-5 vote in the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. It also earlier cleared the House Professions & Public Health Subcommittee.

It needs approval from the House Health & Human Services Committee before it could go to the full House.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Senate will review legislation banning abortion after 15 weeks