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If you have a question for Ms. Magnolia, please mail it to P.O. Box 669, Vidalia, GA 30475, or e-mail to msmagnoliaadvance@yahoo.com.

Ms. Magnolia

Dear Ms. Magnolia, We pro-life Georgians were so happy when Gov. Kemp signed the Fetal Heartbeat bill in May 2019, and we considered it a victory. However, I heard that there was some problem with it. Whatever happened to it? HW

Dear HW, The current state law allows abortions up to the 20th week of a normal 40-week pregnancy. House Bill 481, the “fetal heartbeat” bill, made it illegal to receive an abortion once a heartbeat is detected in the womb, around 6 weeks. As a new law, it would have taken effect January 1, 2020.

The new law faced opposition from Democratic lawmakers and abortion rights advocates. Critics argue that six weeks is too tight a window for a woman to know she is pregnant, get an appointment, and come up with the money for an abortion. In a lawsuit filed by abortion provid ers and an advocacy group, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled against the state and permanently enjoined the state from ever enforcing HB 481.

In response to the ruling, Gov. Brian Kemp said that his administration would appeal the decision. The ruling is apparently still on appeal by the state. The U.S. Supreme Court has announced they are taking one of these cases to review and decide in the next year.

Mississippi, Ohio, and Kentucky have all passed laws that would ban most abortions after a heartbeat is detected. These states are also blocked by federal judges. In spite of that, Republican lawmakers in several other states, including Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Florida are also considering heartbeat bills.

Letters have been edited for length and clarity.