Alabama Senate bans nearly all abortions, including rape cases

Alabama's state Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would outlaw nearly all abortions, creating exceptions only to safeguard the health of the mother, as part of a multistate effort to have the U.S. Supreme Court reconsider a woman's constitutional right to an abortion.

The bill was previously approved by the Alabama House of Representatives and will now go to Republican Governor Kay Ivey, who has withheld comment on whether she would sign it but generally is a strong opponent of abortion.

The law, which passed 25-6, would take effect six months after being signed by the governor, but is certain to face legal challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups who have vowed to sue.