The Alabama Senate fell into chaos on Thursday morning after Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth gaveled down two amendments creating rape and incest exceptions in a bill that would create a near-total ban on abortion.

Ainsworth's move led to anger from Senate Democrats, who demanded a vote on whether to keep the amendments in, and ultimately led to a delay in the bill itself.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, would ban abortion in nearly all cases except when a woman's life is in danger. Collins' bill is intended to create a legal challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down state bans on first-trimester abortions.

Under the legislation, physicians who perform an abortion would be a Class A felony, punishable by 10 to 99 years in prison. Attempting to perform an abortion would be a Class C felony, punishable by 1 to 10 years in prison. The woman who gets the abortion would not be prosecuted.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved amendments sponsored by Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, that would include exceptions for rape and incest. The full Senate must approve amendments to include them in a bill.

More:Rape, incest exceptions added to near-total abortion ban

Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, who was handling the bill in the Senate, quickly moved to table the amendment, and Ainsworth sustained the motion quickly, as Democrats tried to move for a roll call vote. Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, challenged the ruling that there was a motion, leading to an angry exchange between Singleton and Ainsworth.

"At least treat us fairly and do it the right way," said Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile. "That's all I ask ... that's all women in this state ask, both Democratic and Republican."

A review of tape of the proceedings showed that Chambliss did make a motion to table the amendment. But both Chambliss and Ainsworth moved quickly to make and sustain the motion, far more quickly than senators could reasonably move for a roll call vote on the motion.

Singleton had told the chamber before the vote he planned to call for roll calls on every motion. He was sharply critical of Ainsworth's move after adjournment, saying the caucus had signaled a roll call vote by the raising of three senators' hands.

"I’m saying to the lieutenant governor, let’s get it right," he said. "We can still get there, but you don’t have to be gaveling us out, and act like you didn’t see three hands when we had three hands up there already raised."

Ainsworth said in an interview after the vote that he thought opponents had "a fair voice." He noted that the Senate Judiciary Committee adopted the rape and incest exception on a voice vote in committee on Wednesday.

"That’s just the process and how we operate here," he said.

Ainsworth's move also brought criticism from Republicans, including Senate Judiciary Committee chair Cam Ward, R-Alabaster. Ward said he supported the ban but wanted discussion on the bill.

"If we’re going to debate this issue in the serious manner that it should be debated, I will stand here and ask all of you to bring your lunch and your dinner and breakfast even," he said. "I am not going to move until we get a fair procedure in this process."

Other Republicans, including Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said they supported the exceptions for rape and incest. Marsh moved to adjourn shortly after the motion.

"It got a little chaotic on the floor, which is why I chose to carry it over to call of the chair, let people go home, talk to their constituents and come back," he said.

The bill is at the call of the chair, meaning it could be brought up again at any time. Marsh indicated he wanted to see a vote on the measure on Tuesday.

The chamber seemed ready to experience a long debate before the controversy erupted on Thursday morning. Chambliss stressed the bill's attempt to challenge Roe v. Wade, which he said took an "extreme position" on abortion.

"The question this bill goes directly to is the question of personhood," he said. "So today’s discussion is really not about a right to privacy. It’s about the right of an unborn child to live."

Singleton had promised to discuss the bill thoroughly.

"This body today is only made up of three women, and they’re all on Democratic side of the aisle," he said. "There are 27 men on the other side of the aisle that have the power to pass this bill as it is. My side of the body can’t stop it, but we will talk about it. They can cloture us on debate, but we will debate."