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Mississippi governor set to sign 'heartbeat' abortion law

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Gov. Phil Bryant says he's not worried about lawsuits as Mississippi prepares to enact one of the strictest abortion laws in the nation.

The Republican governor is scheduled to sign a bill Thursday to outlaw most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, about six weeks into pregnancy.

The Center for Reproductive Rights calls the bill "blatantly unconstitutional" and says it will sue Mississippi to block the bill from taking effect July 1.

Mississippi is one of several states where Republican leaders are considering similar bills this year. Abortion opponents are emboldened by new conservatives on the Supreme Court and are seeking cases to challenge the court's 1973 ruling the legalized abortion nationwide.

Bryant tweeted that he will fight for "innocent babies, even under the threat of legal action."

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2019 file photo, images of fetuses scroll across monitors in the Senate chamber, as Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, answers questions during a debate over a six-week abortion ban bill. On Tuesday, March 19, 2019, Mississippi senators passed the final version of a bill that would ban most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, about six weeks into pregnancy. (Sarah Warnock/The Clarion-Ledger via AP, File) The Associated Press
FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2019 file photograph, Gov. Phil Bryant explains to reporters the advantages of passing and signing the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act, at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Mississippi's white Republican governor Bryant and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the state's only black Democratic congressman are feuding over who should get credit for the home of a slain civil rights leader becoming a national monument. Thompson says he has worked on the issue for 16 years. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) The Associated Press
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