Wyoming Enacts Abortion Ban After Cardiac Activity Detection

Wyoming Enacts Abortion Ban After Cardiac Activity Detection

Wyoming has approved a new abortion restriction that bars the procedure once cardiac activity is identified, placing the state among a growing number with so-called heartbeat bans.

Gov. Mark Gordon signed HB 126, known as the Human Heartbeat Act, into law on Monday. The measure prohibits abortion once cardiac activity has been detected, which typically occurs around six weeks into pregnancy. Under the law, abortion is permitted only in a medical emergency, such as when the pregnant woman’s life is at risk or continuing the pregnancy could cause serious or irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. The law does not include exceptions for rape or incest, and violations can lead to felony charges, fines of up to $10,000, prison time of up to five years, or both.

Before the bill was signed, abortion in Wyoming was allowed until fetal viability, generally between 24 and 26 weeks of gestation. With this change, Wyoming joins Florida, Georgia, Iowa and South Carolina in enacting similar restrictions. Gordon said the law reflects his belief that life is sacred and his support for protecting unborn children. Opponents, including Julie Burkhart of Wellspring Health Access, the state’s only abortion clinic, argued that the measure undermines residents’ constitutional freedom to make personal health care decisions and could harm community health and well-being.

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