KISSIMMEE, Fla. — On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s abortion ban bill into law while in Kissimmee.
The law goes into effect July 1.
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The law sparked strong reactions from officials across the state. Read their responses below.
Gov. Ron DeSantis
Our bill protects unborn babies from abortion after 15 weeks – these are babies with beating hearts, who can move, taste, see and feel pain.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 14, 2022
Proud to defend life! pic.twitter.com/Xz6v4K4KGC
READ: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs 15-week abortion ban into law in Kissimmee
Rep. Anna Eskamani
Governor Ron DeSantis just signed HB5 into law. This is a 15 week abortion ban w/no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. The starting date is July 1st and we do expect litigation to challenge what is an unconstitutional law. My statement is below. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qFxuIsdKMN
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) April 14, 2022
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried
Today is a disappointing, frustrating day in Florida, particularly if you are a woman.
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) April 14, 2022
Ron DeSantis signed a despicable 15-week abortion ban with no exception for rape, incest, or human trafficking.
My full statement below. pic.twitter.com/VRpgfoeiOw
Today, women are less free in Florida.
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) April 14, 2022
Read: Florida Republicans send 15-week abortion ban to governor
Former governor Charlie Christ
DeSantis has signed into law an unconstitutional attack on women that strips away their reproductive freedom.
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) April 14, 2022
Women should make decisions about their own bodies, not governors. I'd veto this bill and any attempt to restrict the right to choose. Full stop.
Ron DeSantis just signed the strictest abortion ban in Florida history — no exceptions for rape or incest. It’s shameful, wrong and unconstitutional.
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) April 14, 2022
We must defeat him this November and restore reproductive liberty to Florida. pic.twitter.com/Jr23BPsDuR
Read: Florida Senate passes 15-week abortion ban
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis
In Florida, we fight for our children, including the most innocent and vulnerable – the unborn. As a mama of three little ones, I am proud of @GovRonDeSantis for protecting the sanctity of life today by banning abortions after 15 weeks. Life is a God-given right for all babies. https://t.co/xipkh0dURE
— Casey DeSantis (@FLCaseyDeSantis) April 14, 2022
Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby)
“Every abortion kills a special and unique human being who deserves protection under the laws of this state and the chance to grow up in a loving family. As an adopted child in a family that took in foster children, it has always been important to me that our state do everything we can to promote adoption as an alternative to abortion,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby). “Floridians can be proud that we live in a state that not only protects innocent, unborn life, but also supports children and parents. I commend Governor DeSantis for making strong pro-life, pro-child, and pro-family legislation the centerpiece of his administration.”
Florida Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa)
“By signing HB 5, the Governor is moving Florida into a dangerous zone of government overreach - because the truth is that none of us ever actually knows what challenges a person may face during their pregnancy and because this extreme abortion ban does not provide for any exceptions for women who may become pregnant through no choice of their own by rape, incest, or human trafficking. As a government, we must give people the space, dignity, and freedom to make these intensely difficult, personal decisions for themselves and their loved ones. The Governor is out of touch with what Floridians really want, which are policies that balance both the potential life of the unborn child and the life of the mother, not extreme bills that substitute the judgment of politicians in place of the wisdom of the Floridians who have to live with the consequences of these decisions being taken out of their own hands.”
Read: Florida House passes bill to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy
Florida Senate Democrats
"Florida Republicans claim we are the “Free State of Florida” – yet there is no freedom when women are denied access to critical healthcare and the ability to make decisions about their own bodies and their own lives." @LeaderBookFL on Governor's signing of the anti-abortion bill pic.twitter.com/cfH2YZQL7A
— Florida Senate Democrats (@FLSenateDems) April 14, 2022
Stephanie Fraim, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida
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