The Florida House of Representatives recently passed a bill that imposes a six-week ban on abortion. It was almost immediately signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, drawing accolades from advocates for the unborn.

“With the passage of the Heartbeat Protection Act, life is better respected and protected in the early stages of development,” Christie Arnold, an associate with the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) Social Concerns and Respect Life panel, said in a statement. 

The bill, titled the "Heartbeat Protection Act," allows exceptions for abortions that risk the life of a mother and abortions up to 15 weeks for pregnancies caused by instances of rape, incest, or human trafficking, according to a report by CBS News. 

“While the bill contains exceptions to the six-week abortion ban, including for rape, incest or human trafficking, it remains a tremendous improvement over current law,” Arnold continued. “As we look forward to a time when all abortions are unthinkable as well as illegal, we know that when this law’s abortion limits take effect tens of thousands of lives will be saved.”

The act also makes it a third-degree felony for physicians or anyone who actively participate(s) in an abortion that violates the ban, prohibits the use of state funds to help a woman get an abortion from another state, restricts the use of telehealth or mail for abortion medication, and provides $25 million in funding for clinics and organizations that provide counseling and education for pregnant women and families, CBS News said in its report.

“We are also pleased that Gov. Ron DeSantis has indicated his support for further limitations on abortion and look forward to him signing the bill into law," Arnold said, according to the FCCB. "The abortion restrictions in the bill will not go into effect unless the Florida Supreme Court rules to uphold a 15-week abortion ban passed in 2022. We are hopeful, however, that the court’s decision will ultimately allow this law restricting abortion after six-weeks gestation to go into effect.”