Pro-life advocates in Florida are cheering about the latest news of a 28% drop in abortion throughout the Sunshine State.
They credit the drop to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed the Heartbeat Protection Act back in 2023. The law protects children from abortion after six weeks gestation. In May of 2024, the law went into effect.
According to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, there were 60,755 abortions in 2024, down from 84,052 in 2023.
“This is a stunning victory for life,” said Lynda Bell, president and spokesperson of Florida Right to Life and co-founder of Do No Harm Florida, “We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida,” the governor said. “I applaud the Legislature for passing the Heartbeat Protection Act that expands pro-life protections and provides additional resources for young mothers and families.”
State Sen. Alexis Calatayud praised the news and said the six-week ban would encourage women to seek out adoption or family-planning aid instead of abortion.
Neighboring states, Alabama and Georgia, have also seen their abortion numbers drop due to their strict laws. Alabama reports their abortion numbers are down by 44% and Georgia says they have seen a decline in abortion procedures by 19%.
Florida Right to Life emphasized that if last year’s pro-abortion Amendment 4 had passed, it would have permitted abortion on demand for virtually any reason, up until the moment of birth. The amendment would have weakened Florida’s parental consent laws, eliminated safety standards that protect women, and allowed for mandatory taxpayer-funded abortions.
“Floridians dodged a bullet, and won’t be forced to support taxpayer-funded abortion on demand,” Florida Right to Life said. “Our little girls will remain safe from predators who want to take them for an abortion without parental consent and our clinic safety regulations will remain in place. If they come back for round two, we will fight them again.”
