Ohio GOP wants to add 20-week abortion ban to heartbeat bill
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio GOP lawmakers hope to add a ban on abortions after 20 weeks to a bill on its way to Republican Gov. John Kasich that would prohibit abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.
House lawmakers heard testimony about the 20-week ban Wednesday morning with a scheduled committee vote in the afternoon and a goal to put it on the House floor later in the day.
That follows House approval Tuesday night of the so-called heartbeat bill, clearing the way for what would be one of the nation's most stringent abortion restrictions.
The legislation would prohibit most abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy after the first detectable heartbeat.
Kasich is an abortion-rights opponent who has previously voiced concerns about such a bill's constitutionality.