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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 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>

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 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>

Numerous states have either passed or are attempting to pass heartbeat bills.<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> The Heartbeat Bill has been signed into law in [[Iowa]],<ref>Iowa passed it in May 2018. [http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/How-lawmakers-voted-Heartbeat-abortion-bill-481503581.html]</ref> [[Ohio]],<ref>On March 14, 2019, the Ohio Senate passed the Heartbeat Bill yesterday by a vote of 19-13.  From there it goes 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> [[Kentucky]], and [[Mississippi]], and [[Georgia]]. Heartbeat Bills have also passed in the House in Missouri and Tennessee.

Numerous states have either passed or are attempting to pass heartbeat bills.<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>The Heartbeat Bill has been signed into law in [[Iowa]],<ref>Iowa passed it in May 2018. [http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/How-lawmakers-voted-Heartbeat-abortion-bill-481503581.html]</ref> [[Ohio]],<ref>On March 14, 2019, the Ohio Senate passed the Heartbeat Bill yesterday by a vote of 19-13.  From there it goes 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> [[Kentucky]], and [[Mississippi]], and [[Georgia]]. Heartbeat Bills have also passed in the House in Missouri and Tennessee.

Heartbeat Bills are pending in Florida, Texas, South Carolina, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Minnesota.

As of May 20, 2019, here are the landslide margins by which the Heartbeat Bill has passed in state legislatures in 2019:

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>

 

 

The Heartbeat Bill separates the wheat from the chaff among politicians and organizations that call themselves pro-life.  The [[National Right to Life cCommittee]] 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.}}