Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) on Wednesday signed a Texas-style bill that outlaws abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
Idaho on Wednesday became the first state to enact a law modeled after a Texas statute banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. https://t.co/hFCDi8cwBF
— ABC4 News (@abc4utah) March 23, 2022
AP reported:
Idaho on Wednesday became the first state to enact a law modeled after a Texas statute banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and allowing it to be enforced through civil lawsuits to avoid constitutional court challenges.
Republican Gov. Brad Little signed into law the measure that allows people who would have been family members to sue a doctor who performs an abortion after cardiac activity is detected in an embryo.
“I stand in solidarity with all Idahoans who seek to protect the lives of preborn babies,” Little wrote in a letter to Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who is also president of the Senate.
The law in the conservative state is scheduled to take effect 30 days after the signing. But court challenges are expected.
The Idaho bill was modeled after the Texas “heartbeat” abortion law.
The “heartbeat” law effectively outlaws abortions in the state after 6 weeks and also gives any citizen – including those outside Texas – the right to take legal action against anyone who ‘aids and abets’ the termination of a pregnancy after the cut off point.
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