ACLU Statement on Arkansas Senate Passage of Most Restrictive Abortion Law in the Country

The Arkansas Senate today voted to pass a bill that would ban most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, which means that the bill will now go to Governor Mike Beebe. We are hopeful that he will veto it.  (He recently vetoed a bill that banned abortion at 20 weeks, but the Arkansas legislature just overrode that veto today, giving that law immediate effect.)

February 28, 2013

The Arkansas Senate today voted to pass a bill that would ban most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, which means that the bill will now go to Governor Mike Beebe. We are hopeful that he will veto it. (He recently vetoed a bill that banned abortion at 20 weeks, but the Arkansas legislature just overrode that veto today, giving that law immediate effect.)

Please see document referenced below in the documents section.

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Edwards v. Beck: Reproductive Rights

Victory! In April, 2013, the ACLU, ACLU of Arkansas and the Centers for Reproductive Rights challenged in federal court a 2013 law that banned abortions after twelve weeks of pregnancy, saying it violated the right of a woman to terminate a pregnancy before viability. The federal court agreed. However, the court upheld a separate provision mandating that doctors perform an ultrasound on women seeking abortions and then inform her in writing whether the fetus has a “heartbeat,” and what the chances are of carrying a fetus of that gestational age to term.