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The '''Heartbeat Bill''' is [[pro-life]] legislation originating in [[Ohio]], which would prohibit [[abortion]] once the heartbeat of the unborn child is detectable. A heartbeat develops in an unborn child typically in the fifth or sixth week of a pregnancy. A federal version of the bill was introduced in Congress in 2017 by Rep. [[Steve King]], but blocked from a floor vote in the [[House of Representatives]].
<small><center>''See also [[Heartbeat Bill litigation]]''.</center></small>
The '''Heartbeat Bill''' is [[pro-life]] legislation originating with activist Janet Porter in [[Ohio]], which prohibits [[abortion]] once the heartbeat of the unborn child is detectable.<ref>Newman, Alex (April 17, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/32041-pro-life-heartbeat-bills-seek-to-rein-in-abortion-across-u-s Pro-life “Heartbeat” Bills Seek to Rein In Abortion Across U.S.] ''The New American''. Retrieved April 17, 2019.</ref> "Once a heartbeat is detected, the child is protected."
The [[National Right to Life Committee]] typically aligns itself with moderate Republicans (it endorsed [[Fred Thompson]] in 2008 for president) and has not endorsed this bill. Ohio Right to Life has lost local chapters in Ohio due to its decision not to endorse passage of the Heartbeat Bill:<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/health/policy/fetal-heartbeat-bill-splits-anti-abortion-forces.html?pagewanted=all</ref>
A heartbeat develops in an unborn child typically in the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy. A federal version of the bill, H.R. 490, was introduced in Congress in 2017 by Rep. [[Steve King]], but blocked from a floor vote in the [[House of Representatives]]. A total of 173 congressmen have signed on as co-sponsors of the Heartbeat Bill, H.R. 490, as of July 27, 2018.<ref>https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/490/cosponsors</ref>
Fourteen states have passed a Heartbeat Bill as of April 28, 2021, including in Idaho and Oklahoma in April 2021, and South Carolina on February 18, 2021. Texas enacted [[Texas Heartbeat Act|a version of the bill]] in May 2021 which is based on private enforcement rather than state enforcement, which has frustrated attempts by [[pro-abort]] groups to block the bill.
Heartbeat Bills have been enacted in all of these states:
#Arkansas (March 6, 2013)
#North Dakota (March 26, 2013)
#Iowa (May 4, 2018)<ref>[http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/How-lawmakers-voted-Heartbeat-abortion-bill-481503581.html Iowa passed it in May 2018]</ref>
#Kentucky (March 9, 2019)
#Mississippi (March 21, 2019)
#Ohio (April 11, 2019)<ref>On March 14, 2019, the Ohio Senate passed the Heartbeat Bill yesterday by a vote of 19-13. From there it went to the Ohio House, where it already enjoys a majority of representatives as co-sponsors this bill as sponsored by Reps. Ron Hood and Candice Keller there.</ref>
#Georgia (May 7, 2019)
#Missouri (May 24, 2019)
#Louisiana (May 30, 2019)
#Tennessee (July 13, 2020)<ref>https://myemail.constantcontact.com/-Tennessee--the-10th-state-to-pass-the-Heartbeat-Bill.html?soid=1101796939293&aid=swTqk7WdR34</ref>
#South Carolina (Feb. 18, 2021)
#Oklahoma (April 26, 2021)
#Idaho (April 27, 2021)
#Texas (May 19, 2021) (unique with its special provision for private lawsuits to enforce, rather than government enforcement)
As of May 20, 2019, here are the landslide margins by which the Heartbeat Bill has passed in state legislatures in 2019:
*Alabama: 74-3 and 25-7 (full protection bill)
*Georgia: 92-78 and 34-18
*Kentucky: 71-19 and 31-6
*Mississippi: 78-37 and 34-14
*Missouri: 110-44 and 24-10
*Ohio: 56-40 and 19-13<ref>Source: Faith2Action.</ref>
Heartbeat Bills are also pending in Florida, South Carolina, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Minnesota.
The Heartbeat Bill separates the wheat from the chaff among politicians and organizations that call themselves pro-life. The [[National Right to Life Committee]] typically aligns itself with moderate Republicans (it endorsed [[Fred Thompson]] in 2008 for president) and has not endorsed this bill. Ohio Right to Life has lost local chapters in Ohio due to its decision not to endorse passage of the Heartbeat Bill:<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/health/policy/fetal-heartbeat-bill-splits-anti-abortion-forces.html?pagewanted=all</ref>
{{cquote|The refusal of Ohio Right to Life to get behind the heartbeat proposal has led to bitter dissent. In the last two weeks, six county chapters have angrily withdrawn from the organization including, on Thursday, the Cincinnati chapter, the state’s oldest and largest.}}
{{cquote|The refusal of Ohio Right to Life to get behind the heartbeat proposal has led to bitter dissent. In the last two weeks, six county chapters have angrily withdrawn from the organization including, on Thursday, the Cincinnati chapter, the state’s oldest and largest.}}
So-called "Right to Life" groups in other states, such as Tennessee, Texas, and even the National Right to Life, have also sided with [[liberal]] Republicans in failing to support the Heartbeat Bill. In other states some "Right to Life" groups pretend to support the bill but actually work behind the scenes to prevent a vote on it.
== Decisions concerning heartbeat legislation ==
== Decisions concerning heartbeat legislation ==
Some pro-lifers, including James Bopp, have compared the Heartbeat Bill to the [[Personhood Amendment]]. But there is no similarity, and the Heartbeat Bill has none of the flaws associated with the Personhood Amendment.
Some pro-lifers, including James Bopp, have compared the Heartbeat Bill to the [[Personhood Amendment]]. But there is no similarity, and the Heartbeat Bill has none of the flaws associated with the Personhood Amendment.
*the Heartbeat Bill is legislation, not an initiative, thus is free of the election mischief that the Personhood Amendment causes
*the Heartbeat Bill is legislation, not an initiative, thus is free of the election mischief that the Personhood Amendment causes;
*the Heartbeat Bill is supported by genuine and effective pro-lifers, including Janet Porter, Jack Willkie and [[Michele Bachmann]]
*the Heartbeat Bill does not implicate contraception, which is a more difficult issue politically and legally, while the Personhood Amendment has been accused of banning some forms of contraception;
*the Heartbeat Bill is clear and not susceptible to misinterpretations by courts
*the Heartbeat Bill is supported by genuine and effective pro-lifers, including Janet Porter, Jack Willkie and [[Michele Bachmann]]; and
*the Heartbeat Bill is clear and not susceptible to misinterpretations by courts.
== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Abortion legislation 2011]]
*[[Abortion legislation 2011]]
*[[Texas Heartbeat Act]]
==Further reading==
==Further reading==