Ohio's 'heartbeat' abortion bill awaits Gov. Kasich's signature

Ohio lawmakers have passed a controversial "Heartbeat Bill" that would ban abortions in that state from the moment the heartbeat of a fetus can be detected -- which usually occurs about six weeks into a pregnancy.

What happens next for the bill, which would prohibit such abortions even in cases of rape or incest, depends on Republican Gov. John Kasich.

He has 10 days to decide whether to veto the legislation. A veto would stop the bill unless three-fifths of the state House and Senate vote for an override.

If Kasich signs the bill, or if he does nothing within 10 days, the measure would become law early next year and Ohio would have one of the toughest restrictions on abortions in the country.

Should the bill become law, a court battle likely would ensue. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio already has said it would press a legal challenge.

On Tuesday, the Ohio Legislature sent the bill to Kasich's desk after a day filled with legislative maneuvering.

Earlier in the day, state Sen. Kris Jordan, a Republican from Ostrander, called for an amendment that added provisions from the House-sponsored "Heartbeat Bill" to another measure, House Bill 493, that sought to streamline the process in which medical professionals report child abuse situations.

"We are a pro-life caucus...," Jordan said in a statement. "The passage of this legislation in the Ohio Senate demonstrates our commitment to protecting the children of Ohio at every stage of life."

The Senate voted twice: First, they approved 20-11 the decision to tack on the "Heartbeat Bill" language onto House Bill 493. After the amendment passed, the state senators passed the bill with a 21-10 vote that largely went along party lines.

Ohio state Sen. Charleta Tavares, a Columbus Democrat, had planned on voting for the child abuse bill, as originally presented, but ultimately voted against it because she opposed the "Heartbeat Bill" amendment and change in language.

"I believe everyone has a right to their own body," Tavares told CNN. "We allowed a good bill that protects the health and safety of our children to be bastardized into a government takeover of women's wombs."

After the bill went back the House, state representatives easily approved the revised bill 56-39 on Tuesday night. It now goes to Kasich for his signature.

Emmalee Kalmbach, a former Ohio Right to Life staffer who is now Kasich's press secretary, said the governor does not typically comment on pending legislation.

Earlier this year, Kasich told CNN that he was "pro-life with the exceptions of rape, incest and the life of the mother."

Current Ohio law generally prohibits abortions of viable fetuses. After the start of the 20th week of gestation, an abortion may not be performed unless a physician determines the fetus does not have a reasonable possibility of living outside the womb.

That restriction, which Kasich signed in 2011, also is not enforced if a doctor determines that the pregnancy poses a serious risk to the woman's health.

And earlier this year Kasich signed a bill to ban the state from contracting for health services with any organization that performs or promotes abortions -- a measure widely seen as a way to defund Planned Parenthood.

The Columbus Dispatch and the Cleveland Plain Dealer have reported that Kasich expressed concerns about previous attempts to pass a "Heartbeat Bill," including that it may not withstand legal challenges.

Despite his record, Tavares said she still hopes Kasich would line-item veto the "Heartbeat Bill" language.

The Heartbeat Bill has been called "unconstitutional" by members of both parties in the past, Tavares said. Though it passed the state House over a year ago, it previously met opposition in the Senate. On the heels of Donald Trump's election, momentum for the bill's approval resurfaced.

The ACLU of Ohio tweeted, "Just a reminder, if the unconstitutional #HeartBeatBill passes and becomes law, we will challenge it in court."

SIMILAR ABORTION LAWS IN OTHER STATES

At least two other fetal heartbeat abortion laws -- in Arkansas and North Dakota -- we found to be unconstitutional in federal court.

Ohio state Sen. Joe Schiavoni, a Democrat from Boardman, said the bill would lead to "expensive lawsuits" that would divert resources away from more pressing issues like the opioid crisis.

"To the taxpayers of Ohio, I am sorry that your money will have to be used to defend this bill in the court system."