<p>Lawmakers in Ohio passed legislation this Tuesday that would ban abortions when a fetal heartbeat was detected. This is one of the strictest abortion measures in the country. ;</p>
<p>This can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy and there are no exceptions in the bill, including for rape or incest cases. ;</p>
<p>The legislation bans the procedure before most women even realize that they are pregnant.</p>
<p>This was added to a somewhat unrelated child abuse bill last minute as Republicans saw an opportunity with Donald Trump&rsquo;s election and the presumption that he will be appointing conservative Supreme Court justices. ;</p>
<p>However, Republican Gov. John Kasich still has 10 days to decide if he will be vetoing the legislation. The bill will only become a law if he signs it or does nothing within the 10-day period.</p>
<p>The bill had been introduced prior, but was not passed by the Senate. ;</p>
<p>&#8220;One, a new President, new Supreme Court justice appointees change the dynamic, and that there was a consensus in our caucus to move forward,&#8221; said Keith Faber, a Ohio Senate president and republican from Celina to reporters.</p>
<p>Kaber is confident that it will survive a legal challenge. &#8220;I think it has a better chance than it did before,&rdquo; said Kaber. ;</p>
<p>The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is already ready to legally challenge the law. ;</p>
<p>Sen. Kris Jordan, a Republican from Ostrander, called for the amendment to be added to the child abuse bill. ;</p>
<p>&#8220;We are a pro-life caucus&#8230;,&#8221; said Jordan in a statement. &#8220;The passage of this legislation in the Ohio Senate demonstrates our commitment to protecting the children of Ohio at every stage of life.&#8221;</p>
<p>The Senate first approved 20-11 the decision to include the &ldquo;Heartbeat Bill&rdquo; and then passed the entire bill 21-10.</p>
<p>Once the the &#8220;Heartbeat bill&#8221; amendment was added, a few no longer approved of the new measure and decided to vote against it.</p>
<p>Democrat Sen. Charleta Tavares disapproved of the last-minute inclusion. ;</p>
<p>&#8220;I believe everyone has a right to their own body,&#8221; said Tavares to CNN. &#8220;We allowed a good bill that protects the health and safety of our children to be bastardized into a government takeover of women&#8217;s wombs.</p>
<p>However, the revised bill passed 56-39 on Tuesday evening. ;</p>
<p>So will Kasich veto the bill?</p>
<p>Earlier in the year, Kasich said that he was &#8220;pro-life with the exceptions of rape, incest and the life of the mother&#8221; to CNN.</p>
<p>Ohio is leading the way with this heartbeat bill.</p>
<p>&#8220;Lower courts have struck down similar &#8220;heartbeat&#8221; laws in North Dakota and Arkansas and the Supreme Court refused to hear appeals on those rulings in January,&#8221; writes Reuters. ;</p>
<p>&#8220;But now, with Republican President-elect Donald Trump having the opportunity to fill at least one Supreme Court vacancy, conservatives in Ohio hope that the legislation can withstand a challenge in court.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Author&#8217;s note:</strong> This is a major shift in momentum and even if it is challenged in court, it isn&#8217;t likely to be derailed by the Democrats because conservatives will control the Supreme Court for the foreseeable future.</p>