Florida Senate says legislature ready to replicate Texas abortion bill

The Florida state Senate leader said Thursday that the legislature is ready to replicate a controversial abortion bill that went into effect on Wednesday, NBC affiliate WLFA reported.

Florida state Senate President Wilton Simpson (R) said that state lawmakers are ready to introduce a replicate measure in their upcoming legislative session, after the Supreme Court late Wednesday night refused to block the Texas bill.

The bill signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Monday, placed an effective ban on almost all abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected. Often, that is six weeks after a woman becomes pregnant. 

The law makes exceptions for medical emergencies, but does not allow exemptions for those who become pregnant as a result of rape or incest. 

The law also contains a unique measure in which it is legal for a private person to sue anyone who is suspected of performing or aiding in the abortion procedure in violation of the law. 

Simpson said that the high court’s decision gives the legislature the go-ahead to duplicate the Texas law, according to the NBC affiliate. 

“When the Supreme Court goes out and makes a decision like this, it clearly is going to send a signal to all the states that are interested in banning abortions or making it more restrictive to have an abortion in their state, it’s certainly going to make us take a look at those issues,” Simpson said. 

Miami-Dade County state Sen. Annette Taddeo (D) told the NBC affiliate that the law will violate a woman’s privacy. 

“Unfortunately it’s not surprising but it’s disappointing. Clearly, this law in Texas is draconian,” Taddeo said.