April 4 (UPI) -- The Florida state Senate has passed a measure supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis that would ban abortions after six weeks, curtailing the current 15-week ban.
Senate Bill 300 passed 26-13 Monday with two Republicans joining the opposition, and the proposal was likely to pass a vote in the GOP-dominated House next week before heading to the governor's desk for final approval.
If approved, the measure would put Florida on par with abortion restrictions in other Republican-led states.
Protests erupted during debate at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, with demonstrators chanting "People will die" and "Abortion is health care," which led state police to clear the gallery.
At a demonstration later in the day, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried and Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book were among nearly a dozen people arrested outside Tallahassee City Hall.
