Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is set to sign Senate Bill 6, which would ban abortion in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother.
The measure, titled “Arkansas Unborn Child Protection Act,” was introduced by Republican Sen. Jason Rapert and Rep. Mary Bentley, according to the bill filed on Feb. 9.
“I will sign SB6 because of overwhelming legislative support and my sincere and long-held pro-life convictions,” the Republican governor wrote in a Tuesday statement. “SB6 is in contradiction of binding precedents of the U.S. Supreme Court, but it is the intent of the legislation to set the stage for the Supreme Court overturning current case law.”
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SB6 will ban healthcare providers from performing abortions “except to save the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency,” and it does not make exceptions for instances of rape, incest, or fetal anomalies.
Hutchinson said he would have “preferred” if the bill made exceptions for “rape and incest,” adding it has “been my consistent view, and such exceptions would increase the chances for a review by the U.S. Supreme Court.”
The signing of the bill to law seeks to renew challenges to the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion procedures throughout the United States.
The bill passed with majorities in the Arkansas Legislature, going through the Senate on a 27-7 vote, with one “present” vote, and through the House 76-19, with four representatives abstaining and a single “present” vote.
The law is scheduled to take effect 91 days after the end of the Arkansas legislative session, which is slated for May 3. Those found in violation could face a fine of up to $100,000 and up to 10 years in prison.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas released a statement on Twitter saying the organization plans to challenge the measure in court.
“This extreme abortion ban is cruel and unconstitutional and it will have accomplished nothing but cause stress for patients, while ignoring the pressing challenges Arkansans face,” the organization said.
In January, Missouri became the first state in the U.S. not to perform abortions following a 2019 bill passing into law that strictly prohibited procedures after eight weeks of pregnancy.
The state of Tennessee also recently saw a bill proposed that would allow fathers of pregnant mothers to petition abortions.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to Planned Parenthood for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
