State reps from Florida on Tuesday filed a number of amendments aimed at hamstringing a Republican-led bill that would ban most abortions exceeding six weeks of pregnancy. One such amendment introduced by the Democrats was dubbed the "Forced Pregnancy Act."
Currently, abortion in Florida is legal up to the 15th week of gestation, following Gov. Ron DeSantis's signing of such a bill into law on April 14, 2022. The bill made no exceptions for rape, incest, or human trafficking, according to Health News Florida.
But in lieu of the bill to limit abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, Florida Democrats presented a series of amendments.
One such state rep, Anna Eskamani, who represents Orlando, filed an amendment to refer to the six-week abortion ban as the "Forced Pregnancy Act." The rep wrote on Twitter that the amendment "more accurately describes the ban."
Eskamani also put up an amendment requiring anyone denying an abortion under the proposed six-week ban be provided with a document listing the names of lawmakers who voted for it.
One other proposed amendment, put up by state Rep. Hillary Cassel, D-Broward, would offer a religious exemption to the six-week ban to anyone who holds a "sincerely held religious belief that permits or requires the termination of pregnancy."
In total, Florida Democrats offered roughly 50 amendments to the bill. If the six-week ban clears the Florida Senate, DeSantis could sign the bill as early as this week.
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