State lawmakers, reconvening in a special legislative session to consider abortion restrictions, passed Senate Bill 1 by a 26-20 vote after nearly four hours of passionate debate. It now moves to the Republican-controlled state House for consideration; if it becomes law, it will take effect on September 1.
Ten Republicans crossed party lines on Saturday to vote against the bill, with some saying the near-total ban didn’t go far enough.
The bill, drafted by the Republican Party, states that those seeking an abortion after rape or incest would have to sign an affidavit attesting to the assault.
Indiana currently allows abortions up to 20 weeks after conception (or 22 weeks after the mother’s last period).
It is one of two states, including West Virginia, to reconvene special sessions to consider abortion restrictions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in late June, finding that a federal constitutional right to the procedure no longer exists .
Saturday’s discussions were heated and emotional at times, echoing debates over the bill from earlier in the week. State Senate President Susan Crouch, a Republican, has threatened to clear the gallery more than once after outbursts of backlash both inside the session and from protesters gathered outside. CNN affiliate WRTV filmed a large number of gathered protesters chanting against the bill in the chamber. Some held signs reading “my body, my choice” and “abortion bans replace freedom with force.”
The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Susan Glick, previously admitted she was not happy with it, calling it a “vehicle law” on Saturday. Glick said he expects the House to make changes, but added that as it stands, the bill is “an expression of where we believe the state of Indiana is right now.” If the state House makes changes to the bill, it will go back to the Senate for another vote.
Democratic state Sen. Jean Breault called SB1 a “vicious bill” that “deprives a woman of her right to choose.” Brough added: “The decision whether to have a baby is a complex balancing act of responsibilities and options that should be weighed by each woman, not by politicians or Supreme Court justices.”
The bill passed a Senate committee on Tuesday, with some Republicans voting for the bill but hoping it would be amended.
The committee also held an extensive public debate earlier in the week, with dozens of individuals, from doctors to religious leaders to private citizens, voicing their opinions on the bill. While some objected to the bill because of the restrictions it placed on abortion, others opposed the measure because of exemptions or what they described as vague language.
The anti-abortion group National Right to Life and its Indiana affiliate voiced opposition to the bill before it passed the state Senate, calling it “deeply flawed” and a “weak and troubling” measure.
“The bill fails fundamentally in many areas, including the lack of meaningful enforcement provisions. This bill passes proposals on paper, but lacks any teeth to actually reduce abortions in Indiana by holding those who perform abortions or willfully circumvent the law accountable with criminal consequences,” the Right to life in indiana.
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