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"He said he was inclined to sign it," said Christina Stephens, assistant cabinet director for communications and special projects. "He certainly wants to see the final bill first, which is very much in line with his previous votes and actions in favor of life."
The bill would also penalize doctors who carry out the procedure, imposing a fine of $ 1,000 or a maximum of two years. It allows exceptions to prevent "a serious risk of serious and irreversible damage to a major bodily function" or the death of the mother. The bill does not include exemptions for cases of rape and incest.
Edwards, who is due to be re-elected in October, told reporters earlier this week that his "personal opinion" is that "the people of Louisiana are extremely supportive of life." The bill was passed Wednesday by committees of the Louisiana House and Senate with bipartisan support.
Cory Stewart, director of the Louisiana House of Representatives Communications Bureau, told CNN that the bill would be sent back to the House next week for a final vote. If passed, the bill goes to Edwards' office for signature.
Edwards Thursday predicted that the bill would face legal challenges and that the state would defend it.
The governor also told reporters Thursday that he was supporting the expansion of Medicaid as well as the ban on abortion, saying the decision was also "vital".
Many lawmakers support abortion bills in the Supreme Court, where they hope Conservative judges will overturn historic Roe v. Wade, a decision that legalized abortion in the United States in 1973.
CNN's Eric Levenson contributed to this report.
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