On Monday, North Dakota’s Republican governor, Doug Burgum, signed a bill that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. This is one of the toughest abortion laws in the country.
“This bill makes state law clearer and better… North Dakota is still a pro-life state, Burgum said in a message that was picked up by the Associated Press.
There are no limits to the law when it comes to rape or incest. It was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 76 to 14 and by the Senate by a vote of 42 to 5.
The bill’s main supporter, state Sen. Janne Myrdal, told The Associated Press that North Dakota has always been “pro-life” and thought that both moms and kids were important. Burgum signed the bill into law later that day. “We’re pretty happy and thankful that the governor stands by that value.”
The bill is written so that it will go into action as soon as it is signed. However, the state’s abortion ban is on hold until the North Dakota Supreme Court makes a decision, according to the Associated Press.
Just about two weeks ago, Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, signed a bill that made abortion illegal after six weeks of pregnancy. Last year, DeSantis signed a ban on for 15 weeks, but it has been challenged in the state’s Supreme Court. The new six-week ban would depend on what the court says about the case about the first ban.
Last week, Burgum also signed a bill that bans gender-affirming care for children in the state and gives doctors who do transition surgery on minors up to 10 years in jail.
