State House members have passed a “heartbeat” abortion bill.

The bill banning abortions after 6 weeks has not yet come to a vote in the Senate where it is doubtful it would gain enough votes to pass.

“I would likely vote for it,” Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey told the Chronicle, “but the Senate doesn’t have the votes to pass it. That was pretty evident last year, and we are not as strong this year as we were last year.”

Sen. Katrina Shealy of Lexington agreed.

“I believe life begins at conception so I have no problem voting yes on this bill,” she said. “As has been said before, it will be difficult to pass in the Senate as written because of the rule where a Senator can hold up legislation. If we put it on special order, there would be a filibuster until a compromise was made.”

House member Chip Huggins of Irmo, who co-sponsored the bill, said it makes exceptions for rape, incest, and if the life or health of the mother is in danger.

Sen. Ronnie Cromer said he supports the bill.

“If there is a heartbeat, then there is a living human being,” he said.

The bill would change the current law that permits abortion up to 20 weeks.

The “Fetal Heartbeat Protection from Abortion Act” reduces that to less time than many women know that they are pregnant.

Heartbeat abortion bills have become popular in Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Georgia and Oklahoma.

The bill passed the House along party lines with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.

Critics say heartbeat bills are hard to enforce due to questions on the constitutionality of abortion restrictions beyond those outlined in the Supreme Court’s Roe

v. Wade decision.

Republican governor Henry McMaster has promised to sign the bill into law if it crosses his desk.