South Carolina lawmakers have voted to ban nearly all abortions in the state.
The legislation, however, would only come into effect if the conservative-leaning US Supreme Court moves to strike down the landmark abortion ruling of Roe v Wade.
The state’s Senate passed the proposal in January, and the South Carolina House passed the bill 79-35 on Wednesday, with nearly all Democrats walking out in protest.
It now faces a final procedural vote on Thursday before landing on the desk of Republican Governor Henry McMaster, who has committed to signing it.
The bill requires doctors to perform ultrasounds to check for a heartbeat in the fetus.
If one is found, the abortion can only be performed if the pregnancy was caused by rape or incest or the mother’s life is in danger.
South Carolina joins a dozen other states that have passed similar, or more restrictive abortion bans, which are currently protected by Roe v Wade.
But observers have suggested that the Supreme Court, which now has three justices appointed by ex-president Donald Trump, may try and topple the 1973 case.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who was confirmed last year to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is a devout Catholic who says she has personal opinions against abortion but insists she would not let that impact her decisions.
It is expected that groups opposing the “South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act” will sue to prevent it ever going into law.
After their walk-out Democrats returned to the South Carolina house to speak out against the bill.
“You love the fetus in the womb. But when it is born, it’s a different reaction,” said Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg, South Carolina.
A string of Republicans also spoke up in support of the bill.
“They don’t deserve to die just because their mother made a bad choice one night,” said Representative Melissa Lackey Oremus.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
