COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Senators narrowly advanced a near-total abortion ban on Tuesday with less than three weeks left in the legislative session.
The bill passed the House earlier this year and now moves to a third and final vote in the Senate.
If it passes, it heads to Gov. Henry McMaster's desk for approval.
The chambers have been unwilling to take up each other's bills until now.
Sen. Shane Massey pointed to rising abortion numbers in the state.
South Carolina has one of the least restrictive abortion laws in the southeast, with the procedure legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
According to data from DHEC, more than 900 abortions were performed in the first three months of this year. Nearly half the patients came from other states.
“I think those numbers are unacceptable and we’ve got to do something to address that," said Massey.
“If it's not the number one problem– has there been any other problem we’ve taken up three times in six months?" said Senator Sandy Senn (R-Charleston).
The 'Human Life Protection Act' bans abortion at conception with exceptions for rape, incest, and fatal fetal anomalies.
Under the proposal, people who perform abortions would face criminal charges, but those seeking an abortion would not.
"Did you know that most women would just ask you not to help them and just let them do what they want to do when they want to and make their own decisions?," asked Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg).
Massey has repeatedly said the upper chamber does not have enough votes to pass anything less than a six-week ban.
"We'll probably have potentially even some longer debate tomorrow, but then I think we'll have some cloture votes and we'll see where the body is," said Massey. "I've had a number of conversations with senators. I don't expect that the votes have changed.”
The bill needs 26 votes to pass a third reading.
If the Senate doesn't pass the near-total ban, it's unclear whether the House will take up the Senate six-week ban.
Florida's governor recently signed a six-week ban into law.
North Carolina lawmakers are also looking to pass tougher restrictions.