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<small><center>''See also [[Heartbeat Bill litigation]]''.</center></small>The '''Heartbeat Bill''' is [[pro-life]] legislation originating with activist Janet Porter in [[Ohio]], which would prohibit prohibits [[abortion]] once the heartbeat of the unborn child is detectable. A heartbeat develops in an unborn child typically in the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy. A federal version of the bill<ref>Newman, H.R. 490Alex (April 17, was introduced in Congress in 2017 by Rep2019). [[Steve King]], but blocked from a floor vote in the [[House of Representatives]]. A total of 173 congressmen have signed on as co-sponsors of the Heartbeat Bill, H.R. 490, as of July 27, 2018.<ref>https://www.congressthenewamerican.govcom/billculture/115thfaith-congress/houseand-billmorals/490item/cosponsors32041-pro-life-heartbeat-bills-seek-to-rein-in-abortion-across-u-s Pro-life “Heartbeat” Bills Seek to Rein In Abortion Across U.S.] ''The New American''. Retrieved April 17, 2019.</ref> "Once a heartbeat is detected, the child is protected."

Nine states have passed A heartbeat bill as develops in an unborn child typically in the fifth or sixth week of May 31pregnancy. A federal version of the bill, 2019H.R. 490, including was introduced in Congress in 2017 by Rep. [[LouisianaSteve King]], but blocked from a floor vote in the [[House of Representatives]]. Additional states are considering itA total of 173 congressmen have signed on as co-sponsors of the Heartbeat Bill, H.<ref>NewmanR. 490, Alex (April 17as of July 27, 2019)2018. [<ref>https://www.thenewamericancongress.comgov/culturebill/faith115th-andcongress/house-moralsbill/item490/32041-pro-life-heartbeat-bills-seek-to-rein-in-abortion-across-u-s Pro-life “Heartbeat” Bills Seek to Rein In Abortion Across U.S.] ''The New American''. Retrieved April 17, 2019.cosponsors</ref> The  Fourteen states have passed a Heartbeat Bill has been signed into law as of April 28, 2021, including in Idaho and Oklahoma in April 2021, and South Carolina on February 18, 2021. Texas enacted [[IowaTexas Heartbeat Act|a version of the bill]]in May 2021 which is based on private enforcement rather than state enforcement,<ref>Iowa passed it which has frustrated attempts by [[pro-abort]] groups to block the bill. Heartbeat Bills have been enacted in all of these states:#Arkansas (March 6, 2013)#North Dakota (March 26, 2013)#Iowa (May 4, 2018. )<ref>[http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/How-lawmakers-voted-Heartbeat-abortion-bill-481503581.htmlIowa passed it in May 2018]</ref> [[#Kentucky (March 9, 2019)#Mississippi (March 21, 2019)#Ohio]](April 11,2019)<ref> On March 14, 2019, the Ohio Senate passed the Heartbeat Bill yesterday by a vote of 19-13. From there it goes went to the Ohio House, where it already enjoys a majority of representatives as co-sponsors this bill as sponsored by Reps. Ron Hood and Candice Keller there.</ref> [[Kentucky]]#Georgia (May 7, and [[Mississippi]]2019)#Missouri (May 24, and [[Georgia]]2019)#Louisiana (May 30, 2019)#Tennessee (July 13, 2020)<ref>https://myemail. Heartbeat Bills have also passed in the House in Missouri and constantcontact.com/-Tennessee--the-10th-state-to-pass-the-Heartbeat-Bill.html?soid=1101796939293&aid=swTqk7WdR34</ref>#South Carolina (Feb. 18, 2021)#Oklahoma (April 26, 2021)#Idaho (April 27, 2021)#Texas (May 19, 2021) (unique with its special provision for private lawsuits to enforce, rather than government enforcement)

Heartbeat Bills are also pending in Florida, Texas, South Carolina, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Minnesota.

The Heartbeat Bill separates the wheat from the chaff among politicians and organizations that call themselves pro-life. The [[National Right to Life cCommitteeCommittee]] typically aligns itself with moderate Republicans (it endorsed [[Fred Thompson]] in 2008 for president) and has not endorsed this bill. Ohio Right to Life has lost local chapters in Ohio due to its decision not to endorse passage of the Heartbeat Bill:<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/health/policy/fetal-heartbeat-bill-splits-anti-abortion-forces.html?pagewanted=all</ref>