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.

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Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia Executive Director Peter J. Skandalakis speaks during a press conference Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. He appointed himself to take over the  election interference case after he couldn’t find another district attorney willing to do so. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

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Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — pictured at an August rally in Peachtree City that also featured Vice President JD Vance — appears to have scored another legal victory over gubernatorial rival Attorney General Chris Carr in their battle over campaign finance issues. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2025)

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