On Saturday, Kentucky lawmakers signed two bills that would require women seeking abortions to get ultrasounds. Those bills are headed to the governor's desk.
House Bill 2, not to be confused with North Carolina's House Bill 2, would also require doctors to give audio recordings of the fetus' heartbeat to the mother, CNN reports. But, the bill would let women "avert her eyes" from the ultrasound or mute the audio of the recording. Senate Bill 5 would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
This might sound familiar
Both bills passed easily. HB-2 passed 83-12, and SB-5 passed 32-5. If Gov. Matt Bevin signs the bills, they will take effect immediately.
Last month, Gov. John Kasich of Ohio signed a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. He also vetoed a "heartbeat bill" which would have banned any abortions after a fetus' heartbeat was detected. GOP lawmakers in states like Texas, Missouri, Iowa and Indiana are also planning to push for new anti-abortion legislation.
Additional hearings scheduled today on these cruel, dangerous anti-abortion measures. Call your legislators today. #kyga17 #HB2 #SB5 pic.twitter.com/n87yodedUM
— ACLU of Kentucky (@ACLUofKY) January 6, 2017
The ACLU called the bills "cruel" and "dangerous."
[The bill] sets a tone for the 2017 session in all states: that the unborn child deserves protection.
But anti-abortion activists were pleased with the legislative efforts.
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