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A Republican state lawmaker in Florida is proposing a bill that would ban most abortions as early as around six weeks, allow members of the public to sue anyone who helps end a pregnancy beyond that point and fine physicians $10,000 for each abortion they perform later in pregnancy.

Republican state Rep. Webster Barnaby filed the 40-page proposal — called the 

 — on Wednesday. It would prevent physicians from performing abortions if there is a "detectable fetal heartbeat," effectively banning abortions after about six weeks into pregnancy, before many people even know they are pregnant.

Reproductive health experts have explained that the term "fetal heartbeat" is 

misleading and not actually based on science

, as NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffins reports. At six weeks, the ultrasound machine is detecting electrical activity from cells that aren't yet a heart, and the "sound" is actually manufactured by the machine.

The word "fetus" itself isn't technically accurate until at least eight weeks into the pregnancy; rather "embryo" is the scientific term at that stage of development. Despite this, Barnaby's proposed bill would 

to "fetus" to "unborn child" in the state's abortion legislation more broadly, affecting other laws and regulations. (NPR's own 

 notes that "incorrectly calling a fetus a 'baby' or 'the unborn' is part of the strategy used by antiabortion groups to shift language/legality/public opinion.")

The proposed bill would require physicians to test for "fetal heartbeats," and says they can not "knowingly perform or induce an abortion" if one is detected.

The measure is drawing comparisons to the 

 recently passed in Texas, which the U.S. Supreme Court 

. Texas' ban is among the most restrictive in the nation, and has sowed fears that other states will follow suit.

"This kind of scheme to nullify the Constitution of the United States is one that all Americans — whatever their politics or party — should fear. If it prevails, it may become a model for action in other areas, by other states, and with respect to other constitutional rights and judicial precedents," said 

 when announcing a U.S. Department of Justice 

signaled he might support similar legislation

 in his own state, telling reporters that he wanted to pass stronger laws against abortion but needed more information about the Texas law.

When asked about his bill at the State Capitol on Wednesday, Barnaby 

 "no comments at this time." In the meantime, Florida Democrats are slamming his proposal.

 calling it "a gross excuse of a bill," saying it "attacks women and birthing people who are seeking an abortion" and "attempts to mimic Texas" by creating a process for civil action against those that help people obtain abortions.

"Abortion is healthcare, abortion is a private medical decision, abortion is personal — and there should be no politicians getting involved between a person and their doctor," she wrote. "I'll add that this is 

: we are already seeing businesses in Texas consider relocating and/or allow their staff relocate to states that are more welcoming towards reproductive health. We can't attract a talented, diverse workforce when we attack their rights."

Nikki Fried, Florida's commissioner of agriculture and 

 that in addition to banning abortions before most people know they're pregnant, the proposal "turns Floridians against one another by asking citizens to enforce this extreme law."

Politics and Government News

Rachel Treisman

Author

The bill would ban most abortions as early as around 6 weeks, allow people to sue anyone who helps end a pregnancy after that point and fine physicians $10,000 for each such abortion they perform. 

A Florida lawmaker is proposing a restrictive Texas-style abortion bill

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