Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed the decree Late Friday night, making the state the foremost in the nation to pass severe abortion restrictions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Earlier, the Indiana senate endorsed the near-total ban on a 28-19 vote a few hours after the House passed it in a 62-38 vote.
Before the Governor signed the bill, NARAL Pro-Choice America President
Mini Timmaraju unleashed the following statement in response:
“The extremist lawmakers who forced this bill through a special session clearly could not care less about what their constituents want or need. It’s appalling that they’re going to these lengths to block people from accessing abortion care, and they should be ashamed of themselves.
Governor Holcomb has a chance to veto this legislation and protect reproductive freedom for millions of Hoosiers—he should take it. NARAL Pro-Choice America and our over 63,000 members in the state will be watching.”
The prohibition, which takes effect on Sept. 15, contains some exceptions. Abortions would be allowed in cases of rape and incest before ten weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and health of the mom; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a fatal anomaly.
Democratic Sen Jean Breaux of Indianapolis said:
“We are backsliding on democracy; what other freedoms, what other liberties are on the chopping block, waiting to be stripped away?”
Outside the chambers, activists loudly chanted over lawmakers’ remarks, carrying signs like “Roe roe roe your vote” and “Build this wall” between church and state.
Take NOTE, Roomies!
In the bill, abortions can be conducted ONLY in hospitals or outpatient centres possessed by hospitals, signifying that all abortion clinics would lose their licenses. A doctor who executes an ‘illegal’ abortion or fails to file required information would lose their medical license.
