House lawmakers in South Carolina passed a bill late Wednesday that would ban most abortions in the state after six weeks of pregnancy, moving it closer to continuing a trend in the South of restricting abortion access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bill passed by an 82-33 vote, largely along party lines with two Democrats in the chamber joining Republicans. The bill now heads to the state Senate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Legislature was called back into a special session by Gov. Henry McMaster (R) to continue work on the legislation, which would ban most abortions after cardiac activity can be detected in a fetus or embryo, which usually happens as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bill cleared the chamber only after strong opposition by Democrats, who offered more than 1,000 amendments to the measure. Lawmakers debated the bill for several days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A move earlier this year to pass an abortion ban in the state stumbled when the Senate failed to approve a bill the state House had passed. Three Republican senators voted against the bill in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A similar 2021 law in the state that would have banned most abortions at six weeks was struck down in January, with the court ruling in a 3-2 decision it violated the state constitution\u2019s privacy protections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move in South Carolina to pass the six-week ban comes after lawmakers in North Carolina voted to override the veto of Gov. Roy Cooper (D), banning most abortions in the state after 12 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a leading anti-abortion group, applauded the move by South Carolina to advance the bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEnacting a heartbeat law that can withstand legal challenges will be a giant step forward for South Carolina,\u201d said Caitlin Connors, the group\u2019s Southern regional director, in a statement. \u201cWe thank Gov. Henry McMaster for calling legislators back and look forward to the Senate swiftly sending the heartbeat bill to his desk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n