Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has signed the bill to make abortion a felony in Alabama. The law does not take effect now or immediately change the legality of abortion in Alabama.
The Senate gave final passage to the bill on Tuesday night, sending it to Ivey’s desk. The bill won’t be in effect for six months, but a challenge of abortion rights is already underway nationally.
That challenge would involve federal courts blocking the law, followed by appeals aimed at reaching the U.S. Supreme Court as a challenge to the Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision of 1973.
“Today, I signed into law the Alabama Human Life Protection Act, a bill that was approved by overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Legislature. To the bill’s many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God,” Ivey said in a press release.
The Republican majority in the House and Senate passed the bill over opposition from the Democrats. This law makes it a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion, and the woman would not be criminally liable. The law includes an exception to allow abortions in cases of serious health risks to the woman. However, the bill does not include an exception to allow abortions for victims of rape and incest.