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.