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Florida reacts to 15-week abortion ban

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s abortion ban bill into law while in Kissimmee.

The law goes into effect July 1.

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The law sparked strong reactions from officials across the state. Read their responses below.

Gov. Ron DeSantis

READ: Gov. Ron DeSantis signs 15-week abortion ban into law in Kissimmee

Rep. Anna Eskamani


Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried

Read: Florida Republicans send 15-week abortion ban to governor

Former governor Charlie Christ

Read: Florida Senate passes 15-week abortion ban

Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis


Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby)

“Every abortion kills a special and unique human being who deserves protection under the laws of this state and the chance to grow up in a loving family. As an adopted child in a family that took in foster children, it has always been important to me that our state do everything we can to promote adoption as an alternative to abortion,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby). “Floridians can be proud that we live in a state that not only protects innocent, unborn life, but also supports children and parents. I commend Governor DeSantis for making strong pro-life, pro-child, and pro-family legislation the centerpiece of his administration.”


Florida Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa)

“By signing HB 5, the Governor is moving Florida into a dangerous zone of government overreach - because the truth is that none of us ever actually knows what challenges a person may face during their pregnancy and because this extreme abortion ban does not provide for any exceptions for women who may become pregnant through no choice of their own by rape, incest, or human trafficking. As a government, we must give people the space, dignity, and freedom to make these intensely difficult, personal decisions for themselves and their loved ones. The Governor is out of touch with what Floridians really want, which are policies that balance both the potential life of the unborn child and the life of the mother, not extreme bills that substitute the judgment of politicians in place of the wisdom of the Floridians who have to live with the consequences of these decisions being taken out of their own hands.”

Read: Florida House passes bill to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy


Florida Senate Democrats


Stephanie Fraim, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida


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Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.