NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — It's a bill that would drastically limit legal abortions in Tennessee. The so-called heartbeat bill has already passed in the state house, but a divide among Republicans could keep it stalled in the senate.
The bill would ban abortions in Tennessee as soon as a fetal heartbeat could be detected -- as early as six weeks after conception.
But courts across the country have struck down similar bills as unconstitutional, forcing states to pay legal bills for groups like Planned Parenthood, challenging the measures.
And that is causing other Republicans to give pause.
It's for that reason why the Diocese of Nashville says it also is against the bill -- not because of its intent, but because of its consequences. They say in addition to the legal fee issue, it will bring the focus on abortion-rights advocates.
"It would call undue attention to a victory for the pro-abortion side, potentially setting legal precedent making it more difficult to overturn Roe v. Wade down the road," said Rick Musacchio with the Diocese of Nashville.
While Gov. Bill Lee has said he supports the Heartbeat bill, other Republicans are backing a different abortion bill that would make it illegal only if the U.S. Supreme Court says so first.
