By Gabriella Borter

(Reuters] – Idaho, Wednesday was the first state to enact a six week abortion ban. The Idaho law is based on a Texas law that allows citizens to sue abortion providers.

This law is less restrictive than that in Texas, as it allows only relatives to the fetus filing lawsuits. It is expected to go into effect within 30 days.

Brad Little, Idaho’s Republican Governor said that he worried about whether the law could be hampered by legal challenges.

Little sent a letter to Senator President Little stating that while I supported the legislation’s pro-life policies, “I fear that the new civil enforcement mechanism will soon be proved both unconstitutional as well as unwise.”

It bans women from aborting their babies before they know it. The legislation is inspired by Texas’ six-week ban on abortion. This law, which took effect September 1, allows anyone to sue anyone helping a woman have an abortion.

According to data from the state health department, abortions dropped in Texas by 60% within one month.

Little, who will be running for reelection in 2012, said that the bill could have unintended harmful consequences for sexual assault victims. Idaho’s law, unlike Texas allows for exceptions in cases of rape and/or incest that have been confirmed by police reports.

Rebecca Gibron was the interim CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest. This organization operates three Idaho abortion clinics and called this legislation “blatantly inconstitutional”.

“We are committed to going to every length and exploring all our options to restore Idahoans’ right to abortion,” she said.

Republican-led countries have passed anti-abortion legislation quickly and successfully this year. They anticipate that the U.S. Supreme Court would soon overhaul constitutional abortion rights protections.

A ban of 15 weeks on abortion in Mississippi has been approved by the Supreme Court. It would be a reversal of Roe v. Wade’s 1973 ruling which allowed abortions before a fetus was viable. This spring is likely to see a decision on the Mississippi case.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives approved a nearly-total ban on abortion Tuesday. It also depends upon civil litigation to enforce the law. To become law, it must pass the Senate.

Wednesday’s Idaho law was criticized by the Biden Administration. They asked Congress for federal codification of abortion rights to replace state-imposed restrictions.

“This development is devastating for women in Idaho, as it will further impede women’s access to health care, especially those on low incomes and living in rural communities,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.