All the States That Have Recently Passed Extreme Abortion Legislation

Abby Gardner
In an explicit attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade, several states have pushed laws that would make the procedure inaccessible to most women.

Louisiana is the latest state expected to sign an abortion ban into law. Earlier this week (May 29) the state's House of Representatives passed a "heartbeat bill," per NBC News, that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detectable, which is around six weeks—before many women even know they're pregnant.

The bill has already passed the state's senate, and Governor John Bel Edwards, an antiabortion Democrat, has said that he will sign the legislation into law. That would make Louisiana the latest state to pass a bill positioned to challenge Roe v. Wade—the Supreme Court case that established a woman's right to an abortion in 1973—in the courts after Missouri, Georgia, and Alabama passed similar bills earlier this month.

Here's a breakdown of all the states with recent restrictive abortion legislation.

Louisiana

Like Missouri's law, the Louisiana bill does not make exceptions for pregnancies that result from rape or incest (the house voted down an amendment that would have) but does include one for pregnancies deemed "medically futile."

"In 2015 I ran for governor as a pro-life candidate after serving as a pro-life legislator for eight years," Edwards said in a statement. "As governor, I have been true to my word and my beliefs on this issue…. As I prepare to sign this bill, I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone."

Missouri

On May 24, Missouri governor Mike Parson signed a divisive bill banning abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy—even in cases of rape, incest, or human trafficking—into law. Doctors who perform the procedure could face up to 15 years in prison. "My administration will execute the laws the legislature passes, and this pro-life administration will not back down," he told reporters before signing the bill, according to the Kansas City Star.

Missouri's newly minted law also contains a "trigger" provision that will ban abortion outright if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, which legalized a woman’s right to the procedure without undue government interference nationwide. It also contains additional restrictions that would remain in effect if the two-month threshold is thrown out by the courts, as has happened in other states. It does include an exception for medical emergencies that might threaten a woman's health.

"Politicians are putting the health and lives of Missouri women at risk in their race to make our state the one that overturns Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court,” M’Evie Mead, director of policy and organizing for Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri, said in a statement. "These bans on safe, legal abortion will have real costs—expensive legal costs and human costs for the women and families who need reproductive health care."

Alabama

On May 15, Alabama governor Kay Ivey signed into law an abortion bill that would outlaw the procedure as soon as the moment of conception with exceptions only if the mother's health is at risk. An amendment that would have carved out additional exceptions for cases of rape and incest failed. Under this law, doctors could face up to 99 years in prison if they performed an abortion and could be sentenced to up to 10 years for even attempting to administer one.

"Today, I signed into law the Alabama Human Life Protection Act, a bill that was approved by overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Legislature," Governor Ivey said in a statement. "To the bill's many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians' deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God." Read more about it here.

Georgia

Earlier in May, Georgia's so-called heartbeat bill was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp, banning abortions starting at the moment when doctors can detect a fetal heartbeat, around six weeks post-conception. At that point many women do not yet know they are pregnant. (The previous law in Georgia allowed abortions up to 20 weeks.) Exceptions are allowed to prevent harm to the woman and in cases of rape or incest in which a police report has been filed. The new bill also criminalizes the procedure itself, which means that a woman who terminates her pregnancy could face life in prison or even the death penalty.

"Our job is to do what is right, not what is easy," Kemp said. "We are called to be strong and courageous, and we will not back down."

The law, which would take effect in 2020, is expected to face immediate challenges in the court. Read more about it here.

Ohio

After being vetoed twice by former Republican governor John Kasich, the state's version of a "heartbeat bill" was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine in April. It makes no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. Similar to Georgia's, the Ohio law bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, and the ACLU and other pro-choice groups in the state are mounting a court challenge.

Kellie Copeland, director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, described the situation as "a dystopian nightmare where people are forced to continue pregnancies regardless of the harm that may come to them or their family," per CBS News.

This post will be updated as new details emerge.

Originally Appeared on Glamour