LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A House panel has advanced legislation that would ban most abortions in Arkansas at 12 weeks of pregnancy, after Democrats questioned the way the measure was approved earlier.
The House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Tuesday approved the abortion ban by an 11-5 vote. The panel had approved the restriction by a voice vote earlier, but House Speaker Davy Carter sent it back to the panel after Democrats objected to the way it was handled.
The measure now heads to the House for a vote.
The panel earlier Tuesday approved a separate measure that would ban most abortions in the state at 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe has said he has constitutional concerns about the bills, but has not said whether he’ll veto them.
