March 5, 2013

The Arkansas Senate has voted to override Gov. Mike Beebe's veto of legislation that would ban most abortions from the 12th week of pregnancy onward.

The Republican-led Senate voted 20-14 to override the veto Tuesday. The state House has yet to vote on it. Each chamber needs only a simple majority to override a veto in Arkansas.

Abortion rights proponents have said they will sue to block the 12-week ban if it's approved. Its 12-week standard is based on when a fetus' heartbeat can typically be detected through an abdominal ultrasound.

The Legislature last week overrode Beebe's veto of a ban on most abortions from the 20th week onward. That law is based on the disputed claim that fetuses can feel pain by then.