Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed the so-called LIFE Act into law. If House Bill 481, also called the ‘heartbeat bill’ survives legal challenges, Georgia will have one of the strictest abortion laws in the country.
“We stand up and speak for those unable to speak for themselves,” Kemp said. “The LIFE Act is very simple, but also very powerful. A declaration that all life has values, that all life matters and that all life is worthy of protection.”
As of January 1, doctors would not be able to perform abortions after a heartbeat is detected, which is usually six weeks into a pregnancy. That’s before many women know they’re pregnant. Current Georgia law allows abortions up to 20 weeks.
An emotional state Senator Renee Unterman, a former nurse and social worker and mother of two adopted children, spoke at the signing, calling the law the culmination of her political career.
Rep Ed Setzler authored the bill which he calls a “common sense” measure.
“The Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act is a bill that recognizes something that many have known for years. We recognize what science, law and common sense told us today, that those in utero in Georgia, with a human heartbeat, with a full circulatory system and all the components of humanity should get full protection of our laws,” Setzler said.
Exceptions would be made if a fetus is not medically viable, when the life of the mother is at risk, or if a police report has been filed in the case of rape or incest.
Staci Fox, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast, said this bill would effectively ban abortions for women in Georgia.
ACLU of Georgia legal director Sean Young said the new law is unconstitutional and the ACLU would challenge it in court.
The bill also deals with alimony, child support and even income tax deductions for fetuses, declaring that "the full value of a child begins at the point when a detectable human heartbeat exists."
