Miami Beach Legislator Introduces 12-Week Abortion Ban Anticipating Florida Supreme Court’s Ruling

Tallahassee, Fl- Miami Beach Representative Fabian Basabe (R), has filed a bill that would prohibit abortions after 12-weeks of gestation. 

Representative Basabe’s filing follows two similar 15-week and 6-week bans enacted by the Florida legislature last year. Due to legal challenges against the 15-week ban, the Florida Supreme Court is set to rule on the ban’s constitutionality, potentially eliminating both the 15 and 6 week bans if found unconstitutional. 

Basabe’s 12-week ban would include exceptions in cases of rape or incest if the gestational period does not exceed 15-weeks, as well as if the mother’s life is at risk or the unborn child has a fatal medical abnormality. 

Aside from legal challenges, Florida’s 6-week and 15-week bans have also faced acerbic opposition from Democrat lawmakers. Representative Lois Frankel (D-FL) has led opposition efforts against Florida's abortion bans. 

“Today’s Supreme Court case will carry massive ramifications for women across Florida and the entire Southeast,” said Rep. Frankel. “Governor DeSantis’s cruel abortion ban would restrict access to abortion care before many women even know they are pregnant. Women should have the freedom to make the decision of when or whether to start or grow a family without interference from politicians.” 

More surprising, however, is the pushback against the 6-week ban stemming from fellow conservatives. 

After Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the 6-week ban, former President Donald Trump criticized the move, calling it “too harsh”.

“I think what he (DeSantis) did is a terrible thing and a terrible mistake,” said President Trump when asked if he would support a six-week abortion ban like the one Gov. DeSantis recently signed into law. 

Governor DeSantis fired back at Trump’s failure to support the ban, qualifying Trump’s abortion stance as lukewarm. 

Meanwhile, Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott recently reintroduced the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act in an effort to support pregnant college students. If passed, the law would compel universities receiving federal funds to execute informational campaigns to educate students on available on-campus pregnancy support resources. 

“Pregnant college students can sometimes feel singled out by their schools and aren't aware of resources and rights available to them and their unborn baby,” said Senator Rubio.