Anti-Abortion 'Heartbeat' Bill Introduced By 2 Cobb Legislators

ATLANTA -- Two Cobb lawmakers have introduced a bill in the ongoing General Assembly that is designed to protect preborn children from abortions once a heartbeat is detected. State Rep. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth) and Sen. Bruce Thompson (R-White) introduced Georgia's version of a "heartbeat bill," making Georgia the 12th state to introduce heartbeat legislation this year, according to the Family Policy Alliance of Georgia.

House Bill 481, called the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, would only allow abortions in cases where the mother's life or health is in danger, or in cases of medical emergency. The bill also says that even an unborn child at any stage of development in the womb shall be included in state population-based counts.

Read House Bill 481 here.

"The introduction of heartbeat bills in the House and Senate is the first step toward Georgia becoming a national leader in protecting life," said Cole Muzio, president of the Family Policy Alliance of Georgia. "We enthusiastically support these bills and are grateful for Gov. Kemp's promise to value life and put these innocent Georgians first. Following the horrifying legislation and rhetoric in New York and Virginia, it's all the more imperative for our state to stand for these children and with science, asserting that we will no longer allow for the beating hearts of the unborn to be stopped."

Virginia Republicans are outraged over a now-failed proposal by Democrats that would have expanded abortion rights. Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, sponsored HB 2491, which would have eliminated certain requirements before undergoing an abortion, such as approval from three physicians and an ultrasound. Republicans have also claimed embattled Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's support for a woman's right to choose an abortion is 'evidence that the Democrats would allow infanticide."

Similar bills have been filed in 2019 in Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

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