Maine governor expected to sign a bill that allows abortion up to birth

Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is expected to sign legislation that would allow abortion up to birth, according to reports. 

The bill is titled "An Act to Improve Maine’s Reproductive Privacy Laws" and it would allow a woman to go through with a late term abortion if a doctor determines it necessary. 

Mills introduced the legislation at the start of 2023 and it was supported by Maine House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross and Senate President Troy Jackson. 

The legislation passed out of the Maine Senate 20-11 earlier this week. 

A woman named Dana Peirce was used as justification for this abortion expansion in Maine, according to the Portland Press Harold. Peirce sought an abortion at eight months pregnant after finding out her baby had a genetic mutation called lethal skeletal dysplasia.

She had to travel to Colorado to get the abortion because Maine doesn't allow late term abortions unless the mother's life is in jeopardy. As of now, elective abortions are legal in Maine up to 24 weeks.

Senate Republicans in the Maine legislature raised concerns about this bill.

“We are really opening the door here for those circumstances where […] a fully-developed baby could be killed for any number of reasons,” Republican state senator, Eric Brakey said, according to The Daily Wire.