Lauren Book

It came a week before a new Florida law is scheduled to take effect that would prevent women from having abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, compared conditions in the industry to having “Stage 4 cancer and failing” but that the proposals were like treating “Stage 1 cancer.”

During a conference call Tuesday, leading state Democrats said the only way abortion rights can be preserved in Florida is by electing Democrats. Abortion, they said, should be their focus going into November.

Democrats say it's a "raid on women’s rights" while Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state's abortion law is “the strongest that Florida has seen in decades.”

Activist Chaz Stevens says the book isn't age appropriate and contains references to rape and bestiality. It's a not-so-subtle dig at Florida's recent efforts to ban books.

The bill requires school districts to allow parents to have input in selecting library books and other instructional materials.

The legislature controversial legislation on abortion, immigration and a measure opponents say is intended to whitewash the teaching of history in schools and stifle workplace diversity training.

In addition to the term limits, the bill headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis gives parents and members of the public increased access to the process of selecting and removing school library books and instructional materials.

Examples are bills to phase out the rooftop solar industry and a new public records exemption to hide virtually every aspect of a Death Row execution in Florida.

The measure in Florida comes as Republicans across the country move to tighten access to the procedure.

Sen. Lauren Book says the measure, as it is written, takes "power and control away from" women.

Bill sponsor Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, defended the decision to reject a proposed amendment to make exceptions for victims of rape and incest.