Georgia’s heartbeat bill has been passed in federal courts for two years.
ATLANTA – An election year fix to Georgia ‘s “Heartbeat Act” would likely have the backing of Governor Brian Kemp. Anti-abortion groups want to bring Georgia’s law into line with Texas’s law, which was recently tried in the US Supreme Court.
Georgia’s Heartbeat Bill has been shackled in federal courts for two years, while the Supreme Court recently voted 5-4 too early to dismiss an urgency complaint from abortion providers and enact Texas law.
The Heartbeat law dominated the 2019 session of the Georgian Legislature – with daily protests by women disguised as characters from the “Handmaid’s Tale”. But pro-life Georgians also appeared and the Heartbeat Act was passed with a two-vote majority in the US House of Representatives.
“It’s a lot bigger and bigger than what Texas passed,” said Josh Edmonds of the Georgia Life Alliance, who would like to see Georgia lawmakers adopt parts of Texas law to change the now-stalled Heartbeat Act to eliminate.
TIED TOGETHER: Why Texas Law Is So Different From Georgia’s “Heartbeat” Abortion Law
The new Texas law includes a provision that encourages individuals to sue abortion providers and individuals who help women get abortion services.
“We’re looking at what it would be like to have a civilly enforced heartbeat law in Georgia,” Edmonds told 11Alive News.
But that provision annoys supporters of the election.
“It’s a bounty system. This law does not protect people. It’s made to shame women, “Planned Parenthood Georgia’s Lauren Frazier told 11Alive News.
RELATED: No, the Texas Heartbeat Act doesn’t allow abortions in the event of rape or incest, but makes an exception when the mother’s life is in danger
Governor Brian Kemp signed the Heartbeat Bill in 2019 and now says he will support legislative efforts to give this piece of legislation Texas-style legal force.
“We’ll stay in the battle for the heartbeat bill. I appreciate what they did in Texas,” said Kemp. “We think it will be successful. And we’ll keep watching the Texas case play out and working with the legislature on whatever they want to do for life.”
If it happens next year, the renewed battle over abortions would be a little fresh on the minds of Georgian voters who will be casting their ballots later in 2022.
