Florida governor signs bill banning women from having abortions after six weeks of pregnancy

State Representatives Jennifer Canadi (left) and Jenna Persons-Mulica hug after the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature six months weeks approved a ban on pregnancy abortions Photo: AP

Florida is one step closer to banning women from having abortions for more than six weeks after state lawmakers approved the controversial bill and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it on Thursday.

The state cannot reduce abortion rules from the current 15-week limit until the state Supreme Court overturns its previous abortion precedent.

More than a dozen states have already banned abortion altogether since how the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year and women from all over the southern United States travel to Florida.

The six-week ban will give Mr. DeSantis a key political victory among Republican primary voters as he prepares to launch a presidential candidacy based on his national brand of conservative flag bearer.

«We have the opportunity to lead a nationwide debate on the importance of protection life and giving every child the opportunity to be born and find their destiny. — said the representative of the Republican Party Jenna Persons-Mulika.

Democrats and pro-abortion rights groups have criticized Florida's proposal as extreme.

«This ban will prevent four million Florida women from reaching reproductive age from seeking abortion care in six weeks—before many women even find out they are pregnant" This was stated by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement released after the vote on Thursday.

"This ban will also affect the nearly 15 million women of reproductive age who live in abortion-banning states across the South, many of whom previously relied on a trip to Florida to access assistance.» .

The bill contains some exceptions, including those for saving a woman's life. Abortions in pregnancies involving rape or incest will be allowed up to 15 weeks of gestation, provided the woman has documentation, such as a restraining order or police report. DeSantis called the provisions on rape and incest reasonable.