heartbeat bill
Cardiac-activity abortion restriction
A heartbeat bill is legislation that bans abortion once fetal cardiac activity can be detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy—often before a woman knows she's pregnant.
The term frames the debate by emphasizing fetal development.
Opponents argue the "heartbeat" at this stage is electrical activity, not a developed heart.
Texas passed a heartbeat bill in 2021.
Gestating offspring
- gestationCarrying offspring in womb
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- pregnancyCarrying developing offspring
- trimesterThirteen-week span
embryo · womb · fetal development · conception · termination · reproductive rights · clinic · women's health
Against elective pregnancy termination
- pro-choiceSupporting legal abortion access
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- rallyGathering for a cause
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
campaign · advocacy · march · petition · grassroots · mobilization · right-to-life · reproductive justice
Causing sharp division
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
opposition · division · controversy · backlash · sanctity · bodily autonomy · religious belief · secular
Enacted written rule
- enactmentPassing into law
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- senateLegislative governing body
- policyAdopted principle of action
regulation · ordinance · measure · proposal · amendment · lawmaker · representative · governor
fetus
Gestating offspring
- gestationCarrying offspring in womb
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- pregnancyCarrying developing offspring
trimester · embryo · womb · fetal development · conception · termination · reproductive rights · clinic · women's health · prenatal
pro-life
Against elective pregnancy termination
- pro-choiceSupporting legal abortion access
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- rallyGathering for a cause
lobbying · campaign · advocacy · march · petition · grassroots · mobilization · right-to-life · reproductive justice · activism
polarizing
Causing sharp division
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- moralityRight and wrong principles
rights · opposition · division · controversy · backlash · sanctity · bodily autonomy · religious belief · secular · bioethics
statute
Enacted written rule
- enactmentPassing into law
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- senateLegislative governing body
policy · regulation · ordinance · measure · proposal · amendment · lawmaker · representative · governor · signing
- Reproduction Policynatalism, pronatalism, family planning, population control, birth rate
- Abortioninduced abortion, medical abortion, surgical abortion, elective abortion, late-term abortion