Abortion

The Florida Supreme Court must decide whether to uphold a 15-week abortion ban signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Meanwhile, groups are trying to place a state constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights up to about 24 weeks of pregnancy on the 2024 ballot.

The new legal landscape of abortion is causing more health insurance companies to think about the best way to offer equitable coverage across state lines. Some firms have decided to expand coverage for abortion services.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we talk about the legal limbo around abortion access as the Florida Supreme Court considers a challenge to the state’s 15-week ban. Plus, a preview of November’s special legislative session. And later, a collection of stories about coastal communities' efforts to mitigate flooding.

A KFF survey of employer health benefits shows that 28% of large U.S. companies have limited or no access to abortion under company health insurance.

The proposed constitutional amendment would bar laws that restrict abortion “before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s health care provider.”

Currently under Florida law, anyone who performs or participates in the termination of a pregnancy after 15 weeks, can be charged with a third degree felony.

When Ron DeSantis said during last week’s Republican presidential debate that he would support a federal ban on abortion at 15 weeks of pregnancy, some anti-abortion activists called it the news they had been waiting months to hear.

Donald Trump is facing political blowback from within his party for his comments about abortion. The former president said on NBC's “Meet the Press” that the Florida ban on abortions at six weeks of pregnancy signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis was “a terrible mistake.”

Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book says that the while governor has stated women would not be charged under a new six-week abortion ban, "we’re not just going to take his word for it, we’re fighting to ensure it."

The Florida Supreme Court must decide whether to overrule broad abortion rights protections provided for decades under the state constitution and instead uphold a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that bans the procedure in most cases after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

The 600,000 signatures garnered so far means the proposal can go before the Florida Supreme Court for review.

Oral arguments are scheduled. Since the Legislature passed the 15-week ban, lawmakers approved a six-week limit. So if the court upholds the 2022 law, the shorter term will go into effect.