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Several states have passed controversial abortion bills, and several others are considering adopting similar legislation.
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MONTGOMERY, Al. – In 2019, more than a dozen states have passed or attempted to pass tougher abortion legislation. The Alabama Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would be the most restrictive in the country.

The governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, has already signed a bill that would make any abortion illegal once the heartbeat is detected. This new law will come into force on January 1st.

Two other states – Ohio and Mississippi – have adopted similar legislation. Bills should be litigated.

There are similarities and differences between the Georgian law and the law proposed in Alabama:

When can you have an abortion?

Current legislation in both states prohibits abortion after 20 weeks unless the health of the woman is in danger. The recently signed law in Georgia would change the deadline six weeks of pregnancy, a period during which many critics say that many women are not yet aware of their pregnancy.

Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp signs a law banning abortions as soon as the fetal heart rate is detected in Atlanta on May 7, 2019. (Photo: Bob Andres / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Alabama lawmakers in the House and Senate sent Governor Kay Ivey's office a bill banning almost all abortions in the state at any stage of the pregnancy, unless the physical or mental health of the mother is in danger.

In Alabama: The Alabama Senate approves the near total ban on abortion; send the bill to the governor

In Georgia: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signs Fetal Heart Rhythm Bill, one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country

What about cases of rape or incest?

The Kemp law signed in May Is include an exception in case of rape and incest. By law, the pregnancy must last 20 weeks or less and an official police report must be filed alleging rape and / or incest.

The same is currently true for Alabama, but the State House has passed a bill without an exception for rape and incest. The Senate weighed an Democrats' amendment calling for an exemption in cases of rape and incest, which failed. The Senate passed the bill without exemptions and sent it to the governor.

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If abortion is a crime, what is the punishment? Who is responsible?

At the present time, non-compliance with Georgia's abortion law may result in a term of imprisonment "of at least one year and not more than ten years ". The newly signed bill gives no indication as to who would be charged with sanctions and whether they would be punished.

Bianca Cameron-Schwiesow, a protester of the bill on the total abortion ban in Alabama, is disguised as a maid while she was waiting in front of the Alabama residence after HB 314 passed the State Senate in Montgomery, Alabama, on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (Photo: Mickey Welsh / Announcer)

Some have speculated that since the bill recognizes unborn children as "natural persons", women who choose abortion or miscarriage or the health professionals who help them are confronted murder charges, but the term was commonly used in the previous criminal code, that the measure does not repeal.

Distribution of the invoice: Here is what you need to know about the ban on abortion proposed by the state.

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Alabama is currently studying the possibility of punishing a doctor who practices the abortion of a class A crime – punishable for life or 10 to 99 years in prison. Attempting to perform an abortion would be a class C crime, punishable by one to ten years in prison. The woman seeking an abortion would not be subject to charges under the bill.

Alabama representative Terri Collins, a Decatur Republican who sponsored the bill, says the purpose of the bill is to challenge the 1973 Roe v. Wade.

"The heart of this bill is to deal with a court ruling in 1973 that the baby in the womb is not a person," Collins said. "This bill answers that question, is this baby in the mother's womb a person, I think our law says it, I think our people say it, and I think technology shows that 39 is the case ".

Nate Chute is a producer at USA Today Network. Follow him on Twitter: @nchute

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