heartbeat law
noun
plural heartbeat laws
: a law banning abortion typically at six weeks of pregnancy upon the detection of a fetal heartbeat
The Texas heartbeat law, S.B. 8, bans all abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy, before most women know they are pregnant.—
Nathaniel Weixel
Nathaniel WeixelExamples of heartbeat law in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Doctors have reportedly told her family that under Georgia's heartbeat law, they are legally required to maintain life support until the fetus reaches viability.
—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Yost's office said there are provisions in the 2019 heartbeat law that aren't addressed in the constitutional amendment, known as Issue 1.
—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
27 Nov. 2024
Treatment is not keeping pace The researchers examined death records beginning after the heartbeat law went into effect.
—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA TODAY,
24 June 2024
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Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Yost's office said there are provisions in the 2019 heartbeat law that aren't addressed in the constitutional amendment, known as Issue 1.
—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
27 Nov. 2024
Treatment is not keeping pace The researchers examined death records beginning after the heartbeat law went into effect.
—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA TODAY,
24 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Heartbeat law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbeat%20law. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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