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On Friday, the North Dakota Senate passed two of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, barring the practice if a doctor can detect a heartbeat and regardless of the presence of any genetic abnormality. Once you meet the bills' sponsor, you'll understand how things got so extreme.

The Associated Press describes what the laws would do:

The measure would ban most abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected, something that can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The House already approved the measure. … The vote came with almost no debate in the Senate and after the same chamber approved another measure that would make North Dakota the first to ban abortions based on genetic defects such as Down syndrome.



North Dakota's measure doesn't specify how a fetal heartbeat would be detected. Doctors performing an abortion after a heartbeat is detected could face a felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Women having an abortion would not face charges.

The genetic defects bill also bans sex selection as a rationale for abortion.

Both bills originated in the state House of Representatives, where they passed; both were sponsored by five-term State Representative Bette Grande. The measures comprise one-third of the bills Grande has introduced in the legislature this session, which include: