National

Oklahoma's legislature passes a bill banning nearly all abortions

By Rina Torchinsky

Published May 19, 2022 at 3:59 PM PDT

This story was published more than 2 years ago.

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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt poses for a photo with the bill he signed, making it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, on April 12, 2022, in Oklahoma City, following a bill signing ceremony.

Oklahoma's legislature passed a bill Thursday that prohibits nearly all abortions beginning at fertilization.

The legislation builds on an Oklahoma bill passed earlier this month, which prohibits abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy — echoing a similar move in Texas.

Vice President Kamala Harris called it "one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country."

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"It's outrageous and it's just the latest in a series of extreme laws around the country," Harris said in a virtual meeting with abortion providers.

If Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs the bill, the legislation would go into effect immediately. Stitt has pledged to make Oklahoma "the most pro-life state in the country."