Missouri governor signs ban on abortions after eight weeks

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) on Friday signed into law a bill banning abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy.

The new law includes exceptions for medical emergencies but not for cases of rape and incest.

{mosads}The controversial measure is slated to go into effect Aug. 28. Doctors who violate the law could face up to 15 years in prison.

Missouri is the first state this year to pass an eight-week abortion ban, though others, including Kentucky and Georgia, recently passed laws prohibiting the procedure after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, usually around six weeks of pregnancy.

The Missouri ban follows a new law in Alabama that is now the most restrictive in the nation. Doctors who perform the procedure in Alabama would be subject to felony charges and could face up to 99 years in prison.

There are no exceptions for rape and incest under the Alabama law. The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood announced a legal challenge against the Alabama ban on Friday.

Updated at 11:56 a.m.