HELENA – A long-shot bid to declare that protecting unborn life is a compelling state interest drew impassioned debate on the Senate floor Thursday.
Senate Bill 46 passed by a 29-19 vote. It would ask voters to amend the state constitution, so it requires 100 votes to pass through the Legislature.
The measure will now move to the House, where it needs 71 votes. The House is split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.
Republican Sen. Daniel McGee of Laurel is the measure’s sponsor. It is one of a number of bills dealing with abortion that lawmakers are considering this session.
On Thursday morning, lawmakers heard another bill sponsored by McGee that would give a fetus the legal status of a person. That bill also would require a constitutional amendment.