Missouri House passes fetal heartbeat bill

Missouri’s pro-life Heartbeat Bill is headed to the Governor’s desk after it was approved in the Missouri House today. The House vote was 110-44, and happened after about two hours of emotional debate that included numerous outbursts from audience members.

The bill has attracted national media attention as the state joins a dozen others in protecting the life of unborn children past eight weeks of gestation.

• ban abortion at detection of a heartbeat at 8 weeks, if overturned
• ban abortion at 14 weeks, if overturned
• ban abortion at 18 weeks
• ban abortion when the baby can feel pain
• require 2nd custodial parent notification
• require Missouri informed consent requirements for out-of-state abortion referrals
• increase required malpractice insurance to 3 million dollars
• increase to 70% of the donation, tax credits for donations to Pregnancy Resource Centers and lift the limit on the amount of the donation
• ban abortion in Missouri when Roe v. Wade is overturned
• ban abortion for race, gender and Down Syndrome diagnosis

Missouri Right to Life issued a statement praising the action. “We thank the Missouri House and Senate for their commitment this session to increase protections to unborn children and their mothers and to Governor Parson for his strong commitment to pro-life legislation.”

The Missouri Senate voted on Thursday to approve a bill that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The Senate vote came after about 15 hours of filibustering by Democrats and negotiations.

The bill includes exceptions for medical emergencies but not for the 1 to 5% of rape or incest that occur in the state.

8-week fetus

The House approved HB 126 in February by a 117-39 vote, with three Democratic lawmakers voting for the bill. They were State Reps. Steve Butz, D-St. Louis, Joe Runions, D-Grandview, and Rory Rowland, D-Independence.

The legislation, which is sponsored in the House by State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, would prohibit selective abortions due to sex, race or diagnosis of Down Syndrome.

If the courts don’t allow Missouri’s legislation to take effect, it includes a series of less-restrictive time limits (14, 18 and 20 weeks) that may be more likely to win favor with the courts.