South Carolina House approves near-total abortion ban

Despite pleas to not proceed from a lawmaker who originally supported a near-total abortion ban, the South Carolina House of Representatives approved a bill, HB 5399, on Tuesday that outlaws abortion at almost every stage of pregnancy with the exception of some cases of rape or incest. The amendment for making an exception for rape and incest was added at the last minute. It considers cases up to 12 weeks after conception and requires reporting to law enforcement. According to the Associated Press, lawmakers previously considered no exceptions for rape and incest in the abortion ban, but that version of the bill was rejected.

In addition to rape and incest exceptions, the bill would also allow exceptions in order to prevent the death of the pregnant person, the substantial risk of death for the pregnant person because of a physical condition, or "the substantial physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman."