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For Immediate Release
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ACLU of Florida Media Office, media@aclufl.org

ACLU of Florida Denounces Passage of Bill in Senate Committee that will Ban Abortion Access After 15 Weeks

Today, the Senate Health Policy Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 146 (SB 146), which will eliminate access to safe and legal abortion care after 15 weeks and will criminalize medical professionals who provide such critical reproductive healthcare.

This bill bans abortion at 15 weeks with no concern for a pregnant person's circumstances. SB 146 makes no exception for individuals who are the victims of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking. Additionally, there is no exception for significant, life-threatening fetal anomalies that do not result in imminent death.

WASHINGTON

Today, the Senate Health Policy Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 146 (SB 146), which will eliminate access to safe and legal abortion care after 15 weeks and will criminalize medical professionals who provide such critical reproductive healthcare.

This bill bans abortion at 15 weeks with no concern for a pregnant person's circumstances. SB 146 makes no exception for individuals who are the victims of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking. Additionally, there is no exception for significant, life-threatening fetal anomalies that do not result in imminent death.

Kara Gross, ACLU of Florida's legislative director and senior policy counsel, responded to today's hearing with the following:

"With the passage of SB 146, Florida lawmakers exert unprecedented government overreach and intrusion into the private and personal lives of Floridians. This bill forces a pregnant person to continue their pregnancy and bear a child against their will. Politicians have no business forcing people to have children against their will. No one, and especially not the government, should have the power to control our bodies and our future. Abortion bans are deeply unpopular, blatantly unconstitutional, and dangerous to Floridians.

"SB 146 makes no exception for individuals who are victims of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking. This bill is a cruel distraction from the real issues we need our legislature to address, like health care, poverty and affordable housing. These types of anti-abortion bans disproportionately harm Black and Latinx people and low-income communities. Abortion bans do nothing to address the serious economic and health challenges facing Floridians, and instead exacerbate these challenges for those most in-need.

"Floridians overwhelmingly support access to safe and legal abortion care. Reproductive freedom means having the ability to control one's life at the most basic level: our bodies, our families, and our future. Everyone deserves access to health care without barriers or political roadblocks."

The mission of the ACLU of Florida is to protect, defend, strengthen, and promote the constitutional rights and liberties of all people in Florida. We envision a fair and just Florida, where all people are free, equal under the law, and live with dignity.