Amid protests and a heavy police presence, the Georgia Senate Friday night passed a bill banning almost all abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
The GOP-controlled Senate had spent hours debating the measure, which is backed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. A version of it has already passed the House.
Women in Georgia can currently seek an abortion during the first 20 weeks of a pregnancy. A heartbeat can be detected in an embryo as early as six weeks, before many women know they're pregnant.
GOP governors in Mississippi and Kentucky have recently signed similar "heartbeat" bills.
Abortion opponents are hoping the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court will soon either reverse Roe v. Wade or uphold specific state laws undermining the landmark ruling.