Once again this legislative session, conservative members of the SC General Assembly are attempting to restrict abortion in the state. A bill that would ban almost all abortions is being fast tracked in the State Senate. In past years abortion bills have been derailed in the upper chamber. But this session, with a new, stronger Republican majority, supporters hope to finally be able to pass the bill and send it to the House where it has passed before.
This week the Senate’s Medical Affairs Committee narrowly approved Senate Bill 1 known as the "Fetal Heartbeat Bill." It would make an abortion illegal if an ultrasound detects a heartbeat which can be heard as early as six to eight weeks into a woman’s pregnancy.