Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law Tuesday prohibiting abortions in the state, save in cases of a medical emergency.

"As Governor, I pledged to sign any pro-life legislation that crossed my desk," Stitt said on Twitter following the bill's signing. "Today, I fulfilled that promise by signing Senate Bill 612 into law, demonstrating to the world once again that Oklahoma is the most pro-life state in the country."

"The most critical thing is to take a stand for the unborn and protect life," he wrote in a separate post. Each life is priceless. As a parent of six, I believe this and am aware that Oklahomans believe the same."

Under the legislation, people convicted of abortion may face fines of up to $100,000 and up to ten years in prison. Rape and incest are not exempt.

"Attorney General John O'Connor and I are well aware that this bill will be immediately challenged by liberal activists on the coast," Stitt stated at the bill's signing.

SB 612 is scheduled to take effect this summer unless it is struck down in court.

Oklahoma has become a popular destination for Texas residents seeking abortions following the Lone Star state's September ban on abortions for pregnancies longer than six weeks.

Planned Parenthood abortion facilities in Oklahoma reported a roughly 2,500 percent increase in Texas patients in the months following the passage of the Texas law, compared to the same period in 2020.

According to Melissa Fowler, the National Abortion Federation chief program officer, the Oklahoma abortion ban "will have a devastating effect" on people seeking abortions in Oklahoma and Texas.

The White House press secretary described the prohibition as "the most restrictive legislation regulating access to reproductive health care."

She urged Congress to support the Women's Health Protection Act, which she describes as codifying a "long-recognized, constitutional right" national level.

"Today's actions in Oklahoma are part of a troubling national trend undermining women's rights, and the Biden Administration will continue to stand with women in Oklahoma and across the country in the fight to protect their right to make their own future choices," Psaki stated.

Live-Action, a pro-life organization, lauded the measure. "Oklahoma's governor recently signed a bill protecting preborn children from conception to birth, effectively prohibiting abortion in all circumstances," the group wrote on Twitter. "This is a tremendous step forward for human rights!"

Republican-led states, including Oklahoma, have passed abortion bans in recent months, hoping that an imminent the United States Supreme Court ruling will help the bans resist legal challenges.

A Mississippi law, which bans abortion after 15 weeks of gestation, is currently being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court, which is due to rule by the end of June on the law's constitutionality.

Suppose the court finds it in Mississippi's favor. In that case, it might give pro-life activists a chance to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which barred states from prohibiting abortions before the fetus is judged "viable," which occurs around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

This report was produced in collaboration with Reuters.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law Tuesday prohibiting abortions in the state, save in cases of a medical emergency.

"As Governor, I pledged to sign any pro-life legislation that crossed my desk," Stitt said on Twitter following the bill's signing. "Today, I fulfilled that promise by signing Senate Bill 612 into law, demonstrating to the world once again that Oklahoma is the most pro-life state in the country."

"The most critical thing is to take a stand for the unborn and protect life," he wrote in a separate post. Each life is priceless. As a parent of six, I believe this and am aware that Oklahomans believe the same."

Under the legislation, people convicted of abortion may face fines of up to $100,000 and up to ten years in prison. Rape and incest are not exempt.

"Attorney General John O'Connor and I are well aware that this bill will be immediately challenged by liberal activists on the coast," Stitt stated at the bill's signing.

SB 612 is scheduled to take effect this summer unless it is struck down in court.

Oklahoma has become a popular destination for Texas residents seeking abortions following the Lone Star state's September ban on abortions for pregnancies longer than six weeks.

Planned Parenthood abortion facilities in Oklahoma reported a roughly 2,500 percent increase in Texas patients in the months following the passage of the Texas law, compared to the same period in 2020.

According to Melissa Fowler, the National Abortion Federation chief program officer, the Oklahoma abortion ban "will have a devastating effect" on people seeking abortions in Oklahoma and Texas.

The White House press secretary described the prohibition as "the most restrictive legislation regulating access to reproductive health care in the country."

She urged Congress to support the Women's Health Protection Act, which she describes as codifying a "long-recognized, constitutional right" national level.

"Today's actions in Oklahoma are part of a troubling national trend undermining women's rights, and the Biden Administration will continue to stand with women in Oklahoma and across the country in the fight to protect their right to make their own future choices," Psaki stated.

Live-Action, a pro-life organization, lauded the measure. "Oklahoma's governor recently signed a bill protecting preborn children from conception to birth, effectively prohibiting abortion in all circumstances," the group wrote on Twitter. "This is a tremendous step forward for human rights!"

Republican-led states, including Oklahoma, have passed abortion bans in recent months, hoping that an imminent the United States Supreme Court ruling will help the bans resist legal challenges.

A Mississippi legislation prohibiting abortion after 15 weeks of gestation is currently before the United States Supreme Court, which is expected to rule on the statute's constitutionality by June.

Suppose the court finds it in Mississippi's favor. In that case, it might give pro-life activists a chance to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which barred states from prohibiting abortions before the fetus is judged "viable," which occurs around 24 weeks of pregnancy.