Washington D.C., Dec 31, 2018 / 16:30 pm
Pro-life legislators in several states have pre-filed bills for consideration during the next year's legislative session, including bills in three states that would prohibit abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat.
In 2019, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Missouri could become the next states to attempt to pass this legislation. Lawmakers in all three states have pre-filed heartbeat bills for consideration and possible votes in the coming months.
Each of the states have governors who describe themselves as "pro-life," as well as Republican majorities in their state legislatures, offering a strong possibility of the bills becoming law.
Texas state senator Bob Hall has pre-filed a bill proposing a change to the state's constitution to enshrine that "the right to life applies to an unborn child." Currently in Texas, a woman can obtain an abortion until the 20th week of a pregnancy. A similar bill has been proposed in past sessions of the Texas legislature.