heartbeat law
noun
plural heartbeat laws
: a law banning abortion typically at six weeks of pregnancy upon the detection of a fetal heartbeat
The Texas heartbeat law, S.B. 8, bans all abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy, before most women know they are pregnant.—
Nathaniel Weixel
Nathaniel WeixelExamples of heartbeat law in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Ohio Supreme Court will consider whether the Ohio 1st District Court of Appeals, where Democrats hold a 3-1 majority, should have denied Yost’s appeal of Hamilton County Judge Christian Jenkins’ decision placing the heartbeat law on hold indefinitely while Jenkins considers the case.
—cleveland, 10 Aug. 2023
Shortly after that decision, the heartbeat law, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed in January 2019, went into effect.
—cleveland, 10 Aug. 2023
In the fall hearing, the state court’s justices will also review whether those groups that sued over the heartbeat law have legal standing in their case.
—David Zimmermann, Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2023
cleveland, 10 Aug. 2023
Shortly after that decision, the heartbeat law, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed in January 2019, went into effect.
—cleveland, 10 Aug. 2023
In the fall hearing, the state court’s justices will also review whether those groups that sued over the heartbeat law have legal standing in their case.
—David Zimmermann, Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heartbeat law.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Heartbeat law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbeat%20law. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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