Georgia Lawmakers Approve ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Ban

georgia state capitol

The appointment of Rep. Richard Smith was announced Tuesday by House Speaker David Ralston. The House Rules Committee was previously headed by Republican Rep. Jay Powell, who died suddenly after collapsing at a lawmaker retreat in November.

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The Georgia House of Representatives put its final stamp of approval on an anti-abortion, so-called “heartbeat” bill Friday, by just one vote. It now needs Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature to become law.

Kemp has pledged to do so, after promising on the campaign trail to sign the nation’s strictest abortion laws.

Republican Rep. Ed Setzler sponsored the bill and defended it on the House floor Friday.