Abortion is currently legal in South Carolina until 22 weeks of pregnancy, but that window is set to sharply narrow. The state's Republican-led Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would ban abortions at the earliest sign of cardiac activity, which typically happens around six weeks; most people are unaware they are pregnant at that point. The New York Times reports the bill also requires that women have two in-person doctors’ visits and two ultrasounds prior to getting an abortion. The bill is now headed to Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who tweeted Tuesday night, "I look forward to signing this bill into law as soon as possible." What you need to know:
- The specifics: The bill does allow abortions up to 12 weeks in some cases: for fatal fetal anomalies, if the patient's life and health are in jeopardy, and in instances of rape or incest. Under the bill, any doctor who violates that could be hit with felony charges that carry up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.