A bill codifying civil liability protections for mothers of unborn children is steadily progressing through the Florida legislature.
Florida Senator Erin Grall (R-29) filed the bill, which was approved by the Judiciary committee along party lines.
Specifically, the bill would amend Florida’s ‘Wrongful Death Act’ by shielding mothers from wrongful death actions brought against them for the death of their unborn children.
Additionally, Senator Grall’s bill would permit parents of unborn children to recover damages caused by the injury or death to such unborn child.
Hence, Grall’s proposed law attempts to simultaneously enable damage recovery by parents of unborn children while shielding the mother of the child from having to pay such damages.
Grall previously drafted Florida’s well-known “Heartbeat Protection Act,” which was eventually signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Heartbeat protection act outlawed abortions six-weeks after gestation. The act preserved previously existing exceptions to the six week prohibition for the life and health of the mother.
Additionally, abortions due to fatal fetal abnormalities can be executed until the third trimester. Exceptions for victims of rape, incest, and human trafficking, were also included, making abortion available up to 15 weeks gestation.
Grall celebrated the bill’s passage, claiming it reflected the legislature’s solidarity with unborn children and their families.
“This bill represents an unprecedented opportunity to protect innocent life, and to stand with the brave moms who choose life for their babies,” said Grall.
“For 50 years, it was legal in this country to kill unborn children, and during that time, abortion has touched every single one of us. We have to grieve for what we have done as a country. This bill makes certain our laws reflect the strongest protections for innocent life.”
Nationally, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) last week introduced legislation demanding a comprehensive review of the US military’s maternal care resources.
According to Senator Rubio’s office, pregnancy and childbirth are amongst the top reasons for admissions at military healthcare facilities.
If passed, the Improving Access to Maternal Health for Military and Dependent Moms Act would require the Department of Defense (DoD) review maternal health care within the military and report the findings to Congress.
The results of the DoD’s review of maternal care services would have to be provided by the Secretary of Defense to Congress within 2 years of the legislation’s enactment.
