Florida “Heartbeat Law” Saves 23,000 Babies

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the state’s “Heartbeat Protection Act” in 2023, which protects unborn babies after six weeks gestation and provides resources for young mothers and families. The law, titled SB300 – Pregnancy and Parenting Support, has made Florida one of the most pro-life states in the nation. The law took effect May 1, 2024 after the Florida Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that there is no right to abortion in the Florida Constitution after a lengthy legal battle over the state’s older 15-week abortion ban. Currently, both Florida’s six-week “heartbeat law” and 15-week ban are enforced simultaneously.

Florida is one of four states that have an active “heartbeat law,” which includes its close neighbors of Georgia and South Carolina, and then Iowa. The law increased widespread protection in the Southeast since Florida’s other closest neighbors of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana all have near-total abortion bans that protect unborn babies from the moment of conception. So before Florida’s six-week ban took effect, the state had been a destination for out-of-state women seeking an abortion with about one-third of all abortions in the South occurring in Florida. However, the data shows that the number of non-Florida residents travelling from out of state for an abortion also fell significantly in 2024. These abortions fell by 51 percent from 7,736 to 3,754.

Florida’s “heartbeat law” includes exceptions, such as rape, incest, and human trafficking, all of which must be officially documented. In addition, Florida requires giving a pregnant woman an option to view an ultrasound, a 24-hour reflection period unless there is an emergency, and she must have informed consent. The law retains the exceptions from the 15-week law, such as: to preserve the life of the mother, which includes ectopic pregnancies; fatal abnormalities where the unborn baby is unexpected to survive outside the womb; and to “avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment or a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition.”

The “heartbeat law” also provides $30 million in reoccurring state funding to support pregnant women and their families with items such as:

• Clothing
• Cribs
• Car Seats
• Formula
• Diapers
• Pregnancy Testing
• Counseling (for mothers and fathers)
• Mentoring
• Education Materials
• Pregnancy Classes
• Parenting Classes
• Adoption Classes
• Life Skills Training
• Employment Readiness
• Wellness Services

Florida also has 167 pregnancy centers across the state where pregnant women and their families can receive aid and support.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “The news of fewer abortions in Florida, previously an abortion destination state, is evident that pro-life laws are saving lives and protecting women. Pro-life laws will only continue to bear fruit and we must continue to affirm everyone’s inalienable right to life whether born or unborn.”