Florida GOP lawmakers seek to ban abortion after 6 weeks

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Republicans moved Tuesday to restrict abortion even more by proposing bills to ban the procedure with few exceptions after six weeks of pregnancy.

The legislation would expand on a 15-week ban passed by the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis last year. The governor said last month he would sign further restrictions on abortion if lawmakers approved them.

State Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, and state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, filed the bills as DeSantis prepared to deliver his state of the state on the opening day of the session.

Unlike the current 15-week law, there are exceptions for rape and incest up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. The proposal also allows for exceptions for medical emergencies that threaten the life or serious harm to the mother.

Democrats vowed to fight against the measure.

“No one wants Ron DeSantis in the exam room with us; personal medical decisions should be between me, my family, my doctor and my faith — not politicians,” state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said in a prepared statement.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

sswisher@orlandosentinel.com