North Dakota on Monday adopted one of many strictest anti-abortion legal guidelines within the nation as Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed laws banning the process all through being pregnant, with slim exceptions as much as six weeks’ gestation.
In these early weeks, abortion could be allowed solely in instances of rape, incest or medical emergency, equivalent to ectopic being pregnant.
“This bill clarifies and refines existing state law … and reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state,” Burgum mentioned in a press release.
Last 12 months’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning the 1973 Roe vs. Wade determination that legalized abortion nationwide has triggered a number of state legal guidelines banning or limiting the process. Many had been met with authorized challenges. Currently, bans on abortion in any respect phases of being pregnant are in place in not less than 13 states and on maintain in others due to court docket injunctions. On the opposite aspect, Democratic governors in not less than 20 states this 12 months launched a community supposed to strengthen abortion entry within the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court determination that nixed a lady’s constitutional proper to finish a being pregnant and shifted regulatory powers over the process to state governments.
The North Dakota legislation is designed to take impact instantly, however final month the state Supreme Court dominated a earlier ban is to stay blocked whereas a lawsuit over its constitutionality proceeds. Last week, lawmakers mentioned they deliberate to cross the newest invoice to ship a message to the state’s excessive court docket signaling that the individuals of North Dakota need to limit abortion.
Supporters have mentioned the measure signed Monday protects all human life, whereas opponents contend it is going to have dire penalties for girls and women.
Republican Sen. Janne Myrdal, of Edinburg, sponsored the invoice.
“North Dakota has always been pro-life and believed in valuing the moms and children both,” Myrdal mentioned in an interview. “We’re pretty happy and grateful that the governor stands with that value.”
Democratic Rep. Liz Conmy voted in opposition to the invoice and mentioned she had hoped Burgum wouldn’t signal it.
“I don’t think women in North Dakota are going to accept this, and there will be action in the future to get our rights back,” Conmy mentioned. “Our Legislature is overwhelmingly pro-pregnancy, but I think women in the state would like to make their own decisions.”
• Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit nationwide service program that locations journalists in native newsrooms to report on undercovered points.
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