Pro-choice advocates are challenging a new Kentucky ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, similar to a Mississippi law that’s being considered by the Supreme Court.
The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood announced they will sue to block the law, known as H.B. 3.
“The Kentucky legislature was emboldened by a similar 15-week ban pending before the Supreme Court and other states passing abortion bans, including in Florida and Oklahoma, but this law and others like it remain unconstitutional. We urge the court to block this law immediately and ensure that people in Kentucky can continue to access abortion care,” said Brigitte Amiri, deputy director of the American Civil Liberty Union’s Reproductive Freedom Project.
Kentucky is the latest conservative state to pass a 15-week abortion ban, as Americans await the high court’s decision that could upend nearly 50 years of abortion precedent.
The Kentucky Legislature passed the law last month, but Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, vetoed it.
The Legislature overrode the veto this week, allowing the abortion restrictions and 15-week ban to take effect. It also imposes restrictions on abortion services, such as the use of medical abortions.
The Supreme Court is weighing a 15-week abortion ban in Mississippi, deciding whether it’s constitutional to limit a woman’s ability to abort a fetus.
The case could upend Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case that gave women a national right to an abortion up until viability, which is typically around 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy.
A decision is expected by the end of June.
Conservative lawmakers, who hope the high court will overturn Roe and uphold the Mississippi law, have readied legislation that would crack down on abortion in their states.
Republican lawmakers in Florida, West Virginia and Arizona have passed 15-week abortion bans.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the 15-week ban legislation on Thursday and goes into effect July 1. The ACLU has vowed to challenge that law too.
Other states, like Texas, have gone further and have prohibited abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is usually between six to eight weeks of pregnancy.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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