Arkansas Adopts US's Most Restrictive Abortion Law

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas now has the nation's most restrictive abortion law -- a near-ban on the procedure from the 12th week of pregnancy -- unless a lawsuit or court action intervenes before it takes effect this summer.

Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated Legislature defied Gov. Mike Beebe, overriding the Democrat's veto. The House voted 56-33 on Wednesday to override Beebe's veto, a day after the Senate voted to do the same.

The votes come less than a week after the Legislature overrode a veto of a separate bill banning most abortions starting in the 20th week of pregnancy. That bill took effect immediately after the final override vote, whereas the 12-week ban won't take effect until this summer.
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