Anti-abortion marchers rally at the Supreme Court during the 46th annual March for Life in WashingtonReutersThe Republican-controlled Senate in Missouri has passed a strict anti-abortion bill, which would outlaw the termination of pregnancies from eight weeks, even in cases of rape or incest.
The state senate approved the legislation at nearly 4 a.m. local time on Thursday, with only hours to go before a deadline to pass new bills, reported the Associated Press.
The bill makes exceptions only for cases where there is a medical emergency.It will now be voted on the state's House, before it can be sent to the desk of Governor Mike Parson, who has expressed approval of the bill.
In recent weeks a series of states have passed strict abortion restriction bills, with Alabama's governor approving a near total abortion ban late Wednesday.
Conservatives have advanced new anti-abortion measures in the hope of sparking a new Supreme Court case, where there is now a conservative majority of justices.