North Dakota passes laws banning abortions

The state of North Dakota passed two new laws outlawing abortion this week.

The first law makes it illegal to perform an abortion once a fetus’s heartbeat  can be detected.

The second bans abortions based on genetic defects.

Both laws were signed on Tuesday by Jack Dalrymple, North Dakota’s Republican governor.

Al Jazeera reported that this legislation is the most restrictive of its kind in the United States.

American pro-choice groups plan on challenging North Dakota’s abortion bans in court.

The new laws are expected to take effect on August 1^st.

STORY WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA TREMBLAY