The Arkansas state Senate on Tuesday overrode Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe’s veto of a controversial bill that would ban abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy, NBC News reported. If the Republican-controlled state House also votes to override the veto, the new law would be the most restrictive ban nationwide.
Arkansas’ Democratic governor and Republican-controlled legislature have been at odds over a series of anti-abortion bills passed by the House. The legislature last week overrode a separate veto of legislation banning abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The 12-week ban is sure to be contested in court if it becomes law, according to NBC.
That law took effect immediately but, if the house also overrides the governor’s veto, the new measure wouldn’t take effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns later this month or in early April.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas has already said it would sue if the 12-week law goes into effect.
