Montana Senate pushes forward with abortion limits

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Abortion foes have won a round in the Montana state Legislature, winning preliminary passage for a bill that would transform abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy into a medical procedure to save a potentially viable fetus.

The proposal would require physicians to deliver a fetus by inducing labor or by cesarean section. If the fetus is viable, the new law would require doctors to save the fetus.

The measure won passage 32-18 Thursday, mostly along partisan lines.

The victory will likely be short lived. Even if the bill manages to muster support from the House, the proposal awaits a near-certain veto from Gov. Steve Bullock, who supports abortion rights.

Democratic Sen. Diane Sands of Missoula called the proposal “extreme.”

She said it would take medical decisions away from a woman and her doctor.