The West Virginia legislature passed a near-total abortion ban on Tuesday, sending the measure to the governor’s desk.
If it becomes law, some Republicans in the state have said they hope it will make it impossible for the state’s only abortion clinic to continue to offer the procedure.
The proposed legislation bans abortions with exceptions that include medical emergencies. It also creates an exception for cases of rape or incest, if the incident was reported to law enforcement at least 48 hours before the abortion procedure.
For minors who fell victim to rape or incest, the bill stipulates that if they undergo abortion, a guardian must have been informed about the procedure, and the minor must wait 48 hours before the abortion….