Ohio House readies vote on abortion bills

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio House is preparing to vote on three separate abortion-related bills, including one that would impose the strictest limit on the procedure in the nation.

The Republican-led chamber has scheduled votes Tuesday on the bills. One prohibits abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy if a physician determines the fetus would be able to survive outside the womb. Another prevents certain health insurers from covering abortions. The third and most strict prohibits abortions after the first detectable fetal heartbeat, or in an estimated 95 percent of cases.

Heartbeats can sometimes be detected as early as six weeks into pregnancy, ahead of the point where the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it unconstitutional for states to limit abortions.

Pro-abortion rights groups and lawmakers planned to protest the votes.