North Dakota Gov. Burgum signs six-week abortion ban

North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed into law on Monday a statewide ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy that does not make exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

The ban took effect upon signature, according to the Associated Press. 

"This bill clarifies and refines existing state law... and reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state," Burgum said, per the outlet. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Janne Myrdal, R, expressed gratitude to the governor for his signature, saying "North Dakota has always been pro-life and believed in valuing the moms and children both... We’re pretty happy and grateful that the governor stands with that value."

Burgum's signing of the ban follows Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis's signing of a comparable measure earlier this month after both chambers of that state's legislature approved stricter regulations on the procedure.

North Dakota has become the latest state to enact restrictions on the procedure in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision that overturned the constitutional right to abortion and empowered states to make their own laws protecting or barring the procedure.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.