FLORIDA – A group of Florida lawmakers is seeking to repeal the state’s six-week abortion ban.
At least four of them spoke about a proposed bill in a virtual news conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Senate Minority Leader Tracie Davis, who represents Jacksonville, and House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa filed a bill on Tuesday to repeal Florida’s six-week ban on abortion.
Florida was one of the first states to reject abortion rights through a ballot initiative after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
“Since the repeal of Roe v. Wade, women in Florida have watched hurdle after hurdle be placed on their healthcare from our state to our federal institutions,” Davis said.
The six-week ban on abortions went into effect in May 2024 with exceptions for saving a woman’s life, along with cases of rape and incest.
During November’s general election, a ballot measure to amend the constitution to protect abortion rights failed.
“Now you may not all agree about abortion but I hope that we can agree that our healthcare professionals should be able to provide safe and reliable medical care to their patients without the fear of criminal prosecution,” House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said.
Amendment 4 would have prevented state lawmakers from passing any law that penalized, stopped, delayed or restricted abortion until fetal viability, which doctors said is sometime after 21 weeks.
The call to repeal the six-week limit comes after a new poll from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab found 54% of Florida voters say abortion laws should be less strict.
A majority of Floridians agree that it should be left up to the respective parties and healthcare professionals.
But, CEO Jennifer Pace of First Coast Women’s Services in Jacksonville says she does not support the repeal what she would like to see is more medical oversight on the abortion pill.
“At our call center, we hear from women who have taken the abortion pill and cannot get a hold of the medical provider who gave them the prescription. I believe the manner in which the abortion pill is provided is negligent, lacking medical oversight, as women are obtaining mifepristone through online services without direct medical supervision, leaving them without support when complications arise.”
Pace said the pro-life organization hears from many women who are scared of the side effects of the pill and while she doesn’t agree with the repeal being presented.
“We have people in our community who support us from both sides of the argument because they see the great benefit of what we provide to the community.”
Pace said she encourages leaders to be open and hear where they are coming from.
“I would really encourage Representative Davis to come to see our center and to learn from us, because I believe that if she took a moment to understand my perspective, she might craft a more effective bill,” Pace said.
Driskell concluded the press conference by saying, “We need to continue to uplift these stories so that our colleagues can come face to face with the consequences of the policy that they have passed.”
According to recent data from the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, the state’s ban on abortion beyond six weeks of pregnancy has led to the first decline in abortions since Roe v. Wade was overturned three years ago.
Statewide totals show abortions were down last year 28% compared to 2023.
Abortions were also down in all counties in Northeast Florida, including a 31% drop in Duval County.
