This April 13th story changes paragraph 11. It states that the last version of the legislation mandates the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (to certify medications abortion providers)

By Gabriella Borter

(Reuters) – On Wednesday, Kentucky banned legal abortion access. The legislature passed a broad anti-abortion bill that went into effect immediately and requires providers to cease offering abortions until certain conditions are met.

Kentucky will now be the first state in the United States to have legal abortion access, as a result of this law.

The bill was challenged by abortion rights advocates groups.

It imposes conditions that state-run clinics believe make it logistically and financially difficult to run, such as the requirement for fetal remains to be cremated or inscribed.

This law requires that a stillbirth or combination certificate be issued for every abortion. It also bans any abortions performed after the 15th week of gestation.

Andy Beshear of Kentucky, a Democrat vetoed it on Friday. However, the Republican-majority House & Senate overrode him on Wednesday evening.

Beshear, in his veto-letter expressed concern about the bill’s lack of exceptions for abortions during rape and incest cases. He also stated that it was likely to be unconstitutional because of its requirements on providers.

Incest andrape are serious crimes. Beshear stated that victims of such crimes should be given options.

Beshear’s other vetoes were overruled by the legislature on Wednesday. These included a bill prohibiting trans girls playing girl’s sports.

Tamarra Wieder from Planned Parenthood Kentucky, state director said that two clauses in the law prohibit abortion clinics operating within the state.

This first requirement requires that providers of abortion pills be certified by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. They are not allowed to offer medication abortions until they have been certified.

Second, the requirement that all fetal remains must be cremated/interred. This places a burden on clinics and causes them to incur costs that are too high.

Telehealth is also banned in the bill. Patients who want to terminate their pregnancy via pill must visit a doctor.

Republican-led state legislatures have passed ever more restrictive abortion bans this past year in anticipation of a U.S. Supreme Court order that could make the bans more durable. Oklahoma’s governor has signed an almost-total abortion ban, which will go into effect on Tuesday.

A case involving a Republican-backed Mississippi law is due to be heard by the Supreme Court before June ends. This gives the Supreme Court’s conservative majority a chance of reversing or repealing the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that allowed abortion to become legal in all 50 states.

The conservative justices indicated a willingness during arguments to drastically curtail the rights of abortion in America.