Challenging Roe: 5 states that have passed strict anti-abortion laws in 2019
Kentucky
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed Senate Bill 9 into law in March, after the measure was passed overwhelmingly by the state Legislature.
Also called the “Fetal Heartbeat Bill,” the new law bans abortions after a heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
State Senator Matt Castlen, sponsor of the bill, said in a statement that the new law “makes Kentucky leading the nation in being pro-life.”
“I think the message to send to Kentucky is we are pro-life in Kentucky, and value that over most other things. You have to have your heart right before you get most other things right,” added Castlen, the Owensboro Times reported.
However, soon after Bevin signed the bill, U.S. District Judge David Hale issued a temporary restraining order blocking the law from taking effect.