Committee advances ‘fetal pain' abortion bill in Georgia

A judiciary committee in the state House approved a bill Monday that would cut the amount of time women have to get elective abortions from 26 weeks to 20 weeks.

House Bill 954, sponsored by Rep. Doug McKillip, R-Athens, is commonly referred to as a "fetal pain" bill. The legislation, similar to laws that five other states have passed, says that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks, therefore the state has an interest in protecting it.

McKillip said his bill has been well vetted, with more than six hours of testimony in three hearings.