Republican-Led States Eyeing Texas-Style Abortion Ban Bills

After the Supreme Court last week refused to block the Texas “fetal heartbeat” law, the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S., other Republican-led state governments are likely to follow suit.

The law, which was first signed in May by Gov. Greg Abbott (R), rewards a $10,000 bounty for private citizens who sue a physician, clinic staff or anyone who’s involved in helping women terminating pregnancy at six weeks pregnancy or later.

Republicans in Arkansas, South Dakota and Florida have already hinted that they will be looking into bringing a similar version of the “fetal heartbeat” law in Texas, which bans abortion at six weeks of pregnancy.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) expressed interest in the idea. “I’m pro-life. I welcome pro-life legislation. What they did in Texas was interesting, but I haven’t really been able to look at enough about it,” DeSantis said at a press conference on Thursday. “They’ve basically done this through private right of action. So, it’s a little bit different than how a lot of these debates have gone. So we’ll have to look, I’m gonna look more significantly at it.”

Since the Supreme Court’s decision, abortion advocates and Democratic lawmakers have expressed their alarm. “Christian extremists are passing forced birth laws to intimidate & cut off abortion services – including for victims of rape, incest, & child abuse. While we fight back, know you still have options. Pills can be mailed to your home discreetly,” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) tweeted Friday.