The Oklahoma Legislature on Thursday approved a bill that outlaws almost all abortions from the point of fertilization. If Gov. Kevin Stitt signs the bill as he has promised, the state would have the most restrictive abortion law in the nation.
The Oklahoma bill defines an unborn child as "a human fetus or embryo in any stage of gestation from fertilization until birth," The New York Times reported.
That goes beyond what other states have done in shortening the time period in which women could legally obtain abortions. A Texas law that went into effect in September outlaws abortions after a heartbeat can be detected, typically around 6 weeks, though many women don't even realize they're pregnant then.
If the Supreme Court overturns Roe. v. Wade – as a leaked draft opinion suggests it would – the states could decide when and whether to allow abortion in their jurisdictions. In Roe. v. Wade and other rulings,the Supreme Court has said abortion should be available in the states up to the point of viability – typically around 23 weeks.
The Oklahoma law has a feature found in the Texas law: It puts responsibility for enforcement on citizens – not law enforcement – by allowing them to file lawsuits against abortion providers and people who help women get abortions, the
