Welcome to

The word viability could become key in when a woman can get an abortion in Florida.  Opposing groups say the legislation would create more grey area.

Florida law doesn’t allow women to get abortions after 25 weeks or the third trimester,  unless there are special medical circumstances. Now, legislation could create earlier bans.

“The reason that I feel that I’m here, the reason I feel that I was elected and the issues that I feel most excited about as we move forward and we push are issues that are pro life,” said bill sponsor Sen. Anitere Flores (R-Miami).

The bill redefines fetus viability. Supporters say medical technology can keep a fetus alive earlier on in pregnancy, but advocates opposed to the measure are wondering why the time frame needs to be scaled back at all.

Women can get a third trimester abortion if their health is being put in jeopardy by a pregnancy. But Department of Health info from 2013 shows that none of the more than 71,000 abortions last year happened after 25 weeks. That caused Senator Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa) to vote ‘no.’

“Every year – just take away another right, just chip away to the point where women will practically not have the opportunity to have an abortion,” said Sen. Joyner.

The lack of supportive data for late term abortions doesn’t sit well with women’s groups.

“We feel very strongly on women’s choice. This is a bill that’s a solution where there isn’t a problem,” said Linda Miklowitz, a representative for the Florida National Council for Jewish Women.

The bill would require a physician to determine if a fetus is viable before any abortion. There is no set week where a fetus can become viable. It is highly unlikely it can be obtained before 20 weeks.

If the proposal passes, the majority of abortions in the state would not be affected. About 6,000 of the more than 71,000 abortions reported in 2013 occurred in the 13^th to 24^th weeks of pregnancy.