PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Rhode Island’s Senate is voting on a bill to preserve federal abortion protections in state law.
If it passes Wednesday, the House plans to vote immediately as long as it hasn’t adjourned for the day.
The House version of the bill was changed during the Senate’s committee process.
An expansion of who may consent to a minor’s abortion was removed. Language was added to make clear that late-term abortions are only done when necessary to preserve the mother’s life or health.
The Senate is amending another statute to ensure the attorney general can prosecute crimes that result in the death of a fetus.