Florida lawmakers pass bill requiring parental consent for abortions, governor expected to sign

Florida lawmakers passed a bill Thursday that requires anyone under 18 to receive parental consent for abortions. 

The bill is expected to be signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) who asked lawmakers to send him it during his State of the State speech last month, according to The Associated Press. 

The state House voted 75-43 largely along party lines for the legislation, with Republicans arguing parents should be included in the decision and Democrats arguing it could put girls at greater risk of danger, according to AP. 

The bill reportedly includes provisions to allow a girl to ask a judge for a waiver in cases of abuse, incest or when a parent could cause more harm than allowing the procedure. 

The head of Florida’s Democratic Party slammed the bill, accusing Republicans of knowing it violates state law.

“DeSantis pushed for this anti-choice bill. He and his Republican lawmakers know they passed a bill that violates our state’s constitutional right to privacy and they don’t care because they expect conservatives on Florida’s Supreme Court to overturn the court’s previous 1989 decision protecting young women’s right to privacy and be a rubber stamp for DeSantis’s attacks on women,” Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Terrie Rizzo said in a statement. 

The bill will become law July 1 after DeSantis signs it. 

Doctors who perform abortions without parental consent for a minor would face up to five years in prison for a third-degree felony, according to AP. Florida will join 26 other states with laws that require at least one parent to give written consent to authorize an abortion for a girl under 18.