12-week abortion ban set to become law in NC after veto override

On May 23, 2023

North Carolina’s state Senators voted 30-20 Tuesday to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the Republican-endorsed 12-week abortion ban. Hours later, the state House voted similarly 72-48, meaning the ban will go into law on July 1, 2023.

On Monday, Republican leaders said they believed they had enough votes in both chambers of the General Assembly to override Cooper’s veto on Senate Bill 20 to push it into law.

The bill will ban nearly all abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy. It also places limits on new exceptions, capping abortions at 20 weeks in cases of rape or incest and 24 weeks for “life-limiting” fetal anomalies, including certain physical or genetic disorders that can be diagnosed prenatally. An existing exception for when the life of the pregnant woman is in danger would remain in place.