North Carolina Lawmakers Pass Abortion Regulations; Possible Veto Looms

North Carolina lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban nearly all abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, compared to the current 20 weeks, following the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade last year. The Republican-led assembly has passed a series of bills in recent months since the court stripped away women’s constitutional protections for abortion. Although less restrictive than other state bills, North Carolina’s legislation has far-reaching consequences as it would impact many women from nearby states who travel there for abortions later in pregnancy. The ban includes new medical and paperwork requirements, capping abortions at 20 weeks in cases of rape or incest and 24 weeks for certain physical or genetic prenatal diagnoses, including life-limiting fetal anomalies. Governor Roy Cooper, an abortion-rights supporter, has pledged to veto the bill, however, the GOP’s seat margins and assurances from the chamber’s leaders indicate a likely override. Cooper and other critics of the bill argue that the measure is still an attack on reproductive freedoms, adding even more obstacles for women.