The state of Mississippi will present arguments in federal appeals court Tuesday, defending the merits of its most recent effort to limit abortion in the state.

In March, Gov. Phil Bryant signed the "heartbeat bill" into law, banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can come as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The law does not allow exceptions for rape or incest. It's set to take effect July 1.

The law is being challenged in federal court by the Center for Reproductive Rights. The hearing will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday. If the court rules against the state, the ban will not go into effect. If that happens, the state is likely to appeal.

Mississippi has been in a similar position before. Last year, Bryant signed a 15-week abortion ban into law. After an emergency hearing, the law was ruled unconstitutional and blocked from taking effect. Attorney General Jim Hood recently filed papers on behalf of the state, appealing the ruling. So, now, both the 15-week ban and the heartbeat bill are in court.

Before Tuesday's hearing, here are some things to know.

What is the heartbeat ban?

Abortions would be banned in Mississippi once a fetal heartbeat is detected, around six weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she's pregnant. The House and Senate both rejected efforts to allow exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. The law does allow an exception if the pregnancy endangers a woman's life or one of her major body functions.

The Mississippi law says a physician who performs an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected could face revocation of his or her state medical license.

Until the law goes into effect, abortions are still legal in Mississippi, even if a heartbeat is detected. The sole abortion clinic in the state, Jackson Women's Health Organization in Jackson, currently does not perform abortions past 16 weeks of pregnancy.

Of the legislation, Bryant previously said, "We think this is showing the profound respect and desire of Mississippians to protect the sanctity of that unborn life whenever possible.

"It also protects, we believe, the physical and mental health of the mother. We here in Mississippi believe in protecting and defending the whole life of that child."

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What's happening with this lawsuit?

The Center for Reproductive Rights, based in New York, has sued the state on behalf of Jackson Women's Health Organization.

The suit is an effort to stop the heartbeat law from going into effect. Arguments for the state will be presented by the AG's office.

The hearing will be held Tuesday in federal court in front of U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves.

What's happened with prior lawsuits?

Reeves struck down the state's 15-week abortion ban law in November, saying it "unequivocally" violates a woman's constitutional rights.

In his decision, Reeves wrote that “Mississippi’s law violates Supreme Court precedent, and in doing so it disregards the 14th Amendment guarantee of autonomy for women desiring to control their own reproductive health.”

Reeves also referenced precedent, saying, in part, "bans do not fare well in court."

How much have Mississippi taxpayers paid in legal fees?

Margaret Ann Morgan, spokeswoman for the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, previously said the 15-week abortion ban has not cost the state additional money because staff attorneys have been working on the case.

In March, Morgan said staff attorneys had spent 916 hours on the case so far. Morgan said that time is valued at $65 hour, meaning the attorney general's office has spent nearly $60,000 on the impending litigation.

An updated cost analysis was not immediately available.

Lt. Gov Tate Reeves previously addressed the financial aspect, saying he would have "absolutely no problem supporting strongly whatever it costs to defend this lawsuit, because I care about unborn children."

How does Mississippi's ban compare to other states?

Across the United States, there has been an increase in anti-abortion legislation, with the intent to overturn Roe v. Wade. Many proposed bills are similar to Mississippi's, attempting to ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Alabama passed the most restrictive abortion law in the country last week, not only banning abortions after a heartbeat can be detected but punishing doctors who perform abortions with a possible 99-year prison sentence. Like Mississippi's law, the Alabama law does not allow exceptions for rape or incest.

Kentucky's governor signed a similar bill into law in March, the New York Times reported, and a federal judge temporarily blocked it just hours later, ruling it was "potentially unconstitutional."

In April, Ohio also passed a heartbeat abortion ban. The ban does allow exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Wednesday, the ACLU and Planned Parenthood filed suit against the state, challenging the ban.

In May, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill into law that would make abortions illegal if a heartbeat is detected. It will not go into effect until 2020.

On Friday, Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature approved a ban on abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy and Republican Gov. Mike Parsonis expected to sign it.

In Louisiana, a heartbeat abortion ban is moving through the state Legislature and Gov. Jon Bel Edwards, a Democrat, signaled he would sign it.

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Contact Sarah Fowler at 601-961-7303 or sfowler@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.