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Lawmakers Plan To Reintroduce “Fetal Heartbeat” Bill
By: Associated Press
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Ohio lawmakers are resurrecting a proposal to effectively ban abortions after the first fetal heartbeat is detected – as early as six weeks into pregnancy.
The bill's previous sponsor says he and abortion opponents will announce plans to reintroduce the so-called "heartbeat" bill at a Thursday afternoon news conference.
House Health Chairman Lynn Wachtmann, a Republican, says the proposal has close to 40 co-sponsors.
The measure died last year after the Senate's GOP leader blocked it from a vote. He's since retired due to term limits.
The proposal had fiercely divided Ohio's anti-abortion community, with some fearing a court challenge could undo other abortion restrictions already in place.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, stars of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting," are also expected to speak at Thursday's news conference.