Missouri‘s state house has passed a bill limiting selective terminations after the eighth week of pregnancy – with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
The state senate passed the bill on Thursday, which now heads to the governor to be signed into law.
Governor Mike Parson, a Republican who has already declared his support for the restrictive abortion measures, is likely to sign the bill.
Mr Parson declared his dedication to the anti-choice cause at a rally on Wednesday: “Until the day that we no longer have abortions in this country, I will never waver in the fight for life.”
The newly passed bill, called Missouri Stands With the Unborn, criminalises abortion providers rather than abortion seekers, much like the bills passed in Alabama and Georgia.
Abortion providers found to have performed non-emergency abortions after the 8 week point may face up to 15 years in prison.
The proposed law will only become enforceable in the event that Roe v Wade is overturned.
The bill's supporters say that, unlike the Alabama abortion ban, this isn’t designed to challenge Roe v Wade.
State Representative Nicholas B Schroer, who is one of the bill’s sponsors, said: “This legislation has one goal, and that is to save lives ... to withstand judicial challenges and not cause them.”
If the courts block the eight-week ban, as pro-choicers vow to bring forward legal challenges, the bill has included less-restrictive week limits that could prohibit abortions at 14, 18 or 20 weeks or pregnancy.
