On Monday, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum signed a measure banning most abortions, save for rape and incest victims in the first six weeks.
Doctors can conduct abortions to save the mother’s life or if her health is in danger, but it’s a criminal. Unless “the probable gestational age of the unborn child is six weeks or less,” Senate Bill 2150 requires rape and incest victims to carry their pregnancies to term.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the federal right to abortion last year, Republican-led states have passed abortion restrictions.
North Dakota joins 13 other states in banning abortion beyond six to 20 weeks.
The North Dakota Supreme Court temporarily suspended a prior abortion prohibition. However, many Democratic-led states protect abortion.
“This bill clarifies and refines existing state law which was triggered into effect by the (U.S. Supreme Court) Dobbs decision and reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state,” Burgum said, according to the Rapid City Journal.
Reuters received no response from the governor’s officials.
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