South Carolina Abortion Update: 20-Week Ban Bill Signed By Gov Nikki Haley; No Exceptions For Rape, Incest

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on Wednesday signed a bill that made it illegal for women to get an abortion after her 19th week of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest, the Post and Courier reported.

This is the latest in a recent string of laws that have made it more difficult for women across the country to seek abortions. The legislation passed the South Carolina Senate last week but faced significant opposition from abortion rights advocates.

Under the bill, doctors would be allowed to perform abortions past 20 weeks only if the fetus has been diagnosed with a life-threatening “anomaly” or if the mother’s life is in danger. Doctors who otherwise perform abortions past 20 weeks of pregnancy would face jail time.

Just three outpatient clinics are licensed to offer abortions in South Carolina; and in practice, these clinics only offer abortions through the 13th or 14th week of pregnancy, according to their websites.