Florida Vows to Enhance Pro-Life Protections after Supreme Court Ruling

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Friday the state would enhance its pro-life protections, while applauding the high court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade.

“By properly interpreting the Constitution, the prayers of millions have been answered,” DeSantis said in a June 24 Twitter post in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to undo Roe v. Wade, following a leaked draft majority opinion in May. The landmark 1973 ruling decriminalized abortion nationwide for the past 50 years.

“Florida will continue to defend its recently enacted pro-life reforms against state court challenges, will work to expand pro-life protections, and will stand for life by promoting adoption, foster care, and child welfare,” the statement continues, providing no further details on how the state will act in response.

A new Florida abortion law was scheduled to take effect on July 1 in a bid to protect fetal rights, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or human trafficking. DeSantis signed House Bill 5, the Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality Act, into law in mid-April, banning most abortions after 15 weeks unless such procedures are to save a mother’s life or out of medical necessity, or the fetus has a fatal abnormality.