Florida’s 6-week abortion ban in effect, replaces 15-week ban

Trevor Sochocki
·2 min read
4

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida’s six-week abortion ban is in effect on Wednesday, replacing a 15-week ban that was previously upheld by the state Supreme Court.

“It’s a very important decision to me,” said Reginald Hobbs. “It’s a step in the right direction in creating a culture of life here in the state of Florida.”

Hobbs is part of the Tampa Bay Pro-Life Alliance, an anti-abortion group in the area. While he supports the bill, pro-choice supporters condemn it.

“There was a 15-week ban, and that was considered pretty extreme,” said Christina Diamond, CEO of Ruth’s List Florida. “Now, with a six-week ban, women don’t even know that they’re pregnant at six weeks.”

The six-week ban was signed into law and supported by Governor Ron DeSantis as the ‘Heartbeat Protection Act.’ As soon as the state’s Supreme Court upheld a previously passed 15-week ban in April, that decision meant the more restrictive ban would automatically go into effect 30 days later, which is Wednesday.

“What we’re seeing right now is kind of extreme laws and different laws in every state,” said Diamond. “So women need to find childcare and travel to other states to receive sometimes life-saving medical care.”

This all comes after the fall of Roe vs. Wade at the federal level.

“I always thought one of the problems with Roe was that nine unelected judges should not have made this decision,” Hobbs said. “A very important decision about the life of a preborn child. It should go back to the states.”

But the issue is far from over, as both sides are gearing up for a fight in November. After abortion rights advocates got a constitutional amendment on the ballot enshrining Floridians’ right to an abortion, voters will make the final decision in the fall.

The state now joins many others in the region in sharply restricting abortion access, as state data shows last year, thousands of women traveled to Florida to receive the procedure.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.