Louisiana governor signs 6-week abortion ban into law originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Louisiana has become the latest state to have a controversial abortion ban signed into law.

The Louisiana House of Representatives passed the bill on Wednesday, sending it to the governor's desk for signature in order for it to become law. Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, has been vocal in his support for an abortion ban and signed the bill Thursday afternoon, his press office confirmed to ABC News.

After the state House passed the bill Wednesday, Edwards released a statement defending his more progressive work during his time in office, while also standing by his choice to sign the bill.

PHOTO: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks at an event, March 28, 2018, in Baton Rouge, La. (Melinda Deslatte/AP, FILE) More

"As I prepare to sign this bill, I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone," Edwards said in a statement Wednesday.

(MORE: State abortion bans in 2019: Many signed, none in effect)

The bill itself is similar to some of the other so-called "heartbeat" bills that have been signed into law elsewhere in that it bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.

(MORE: What to know about new abortion restrictions and what they could mean for Roe v. Wade)

Unlike some other bills and other existing abortion laws, the Louisiana bill does not include exceptions in cases of rape and incest. It is expected to be almost immediately challenged in the courts.

Abortion Restrictions 2019 (ABC Photo Illustration) More

Challenges have happened in Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi and Missouri, which have also passed their own iterations of a so-called "heartbeat" bill.

(MORE: Federal court blocks Mississippi's fetal heartbeat law from taking effect)

Mississippi's so-called "heartbeat" law was blocked from going into effect by a federal court last week.

PHOTO: Sen. John Milkovich, left, and Rep. Valarie Hodges embrace in the House Chamber at the State Capitol, after the House passed Milkovich's 'fetal heartbeat' bill on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La. (Travis Spradling/The Advocate via AP) More

Similarly, Alabama, where they passed a law that went even further banning all abortions except in cases where the mother's life is in danger, is also being legally challenged.

None of the laws have gone into effect, and many see the recent spate of abortion bans as attempts to have the laws appealed up to the Supreme Court in an effort to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision which declared abortion a right nationally.