ALABAMA lawmakers last night passed a near-total ban on abortions - including in cases of rape and incest while promising to jail doctors for LIFE who carry out the procedures.
State governor Kay Ivey, a Republican, will make the final decision on whether to enact the controversial law after local senators voted in favour by 25 to six.
If it's signed off, the new law will make it a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy - punishable by up to 99 years in jail.
The only exception would be when the woman’s health is at serious risk.
The historic legislation is designed to go against the US Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalised abortion nationally.
This means it will likely be challenged in the courts - but if backed by the current conservative-led US Supreme court, could see abortions banned across America.
Senators in the Republican-led chamber rejected an attempt to add an exception for rape and incest - even of underage children - at the vote in Montgomery, Alabama, on Tuesday.
Democratic Sen. Bobby Singleton said after the amendment was rejected: "You don’t care anything about babies having babies in this state, being raped and incest.
“You just aborted the state of Alabama with your rhetoric with this bill."
The bill's sponsor, Republican Terri Collins, said she expects Gov Ivey to sign the ban into law.
Ivey has not publicly commented on what she’ll do - but the large margin in favour of the bill means any veto she might bring in to block it could be easily overturned.
Republican Sen. Clyde Chambliss said in a statement after the bill’s passage: “Roe v. Wade has ended the lives of millions of children."
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