The Republican leader of the Ohio Senate says it is too soon to say whether his chamber would vote before
the end of the year on a bill that would ban abortions in the state after the first detectable heartbeat.
Senate President Tom Niehaus said Tuesday that a group of lawmakers he's convened continues to research the measure.
The legislation called the "heartbeat bill" has divided the state's anti-abortion community. Ohio Right to Life has taken issue with the proposal, fearing a legal challenge could jeopardize other abortion limits in Ohio and expand access to legal abortions.
Niehaus has said that he wants the research group to report back in November after vetting any legal issues. The measure passed the