Your copy of the Georgia Senate’s ‘heartbeat’ anti-abortion bill
Shortly before a blockbuster Senate hearing on legislation that would restrict most abortions, a new version of the legislation emerged.
The bill, House Bill 481, would still ban abortions in Georgia if doctors can detect a heartbeat – often as early as six weeks – aside from a few exceptions: Rape, incest, the health of the mother or medical futility.
One of the biggest additions involves a new requirement that the father of the unborn child pay for medical and pregnancy-related expenses. That provision was pushed by state Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick, a House Democratic leader who still opposes the overall bill.
The Senate version also cuts a preamble that Democrats and other critics said was inaccurate and incendiary.
About the Authors
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
Maya T. Prabhu covers the Georgia Senate and statewide issues as a government reporter for The AJC. Born in Queens, New York, and raised in northern Virginia, Maya attended Spelman College and then the University of Maryland for a master's degree. She writes about social issues, the criminal justice system and legislative politics.
