Lifestyle Health Rape, Incest Victims Must Show Proof to Get Exception to Florida's New Abortion Ban Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Heartbeat Protection Act into law, which bans abortions after six weeks and increases restrictions to the standing exceptions By Vanessa Etienne Vanessa Etienne Vanessa Etienne is an Emerging Content Writer-Reporter for PEOPLE. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 14, 2023 11:20AM EDT Close Photo: Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via AP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has doubled down on the state's restrictions against abortion services. On Thursday, DeSantis announced that he signed the Heartbeat Protection Act into law, which will now require a woman to provide proof that the pregnancy was a result of rape, incest or human trafficking in order to receive an abortion up until 15 weeks of gestation. Documentation can include a restraining order, police report, medical record or other evidence. This restriction is an exception to the new law, which states that otherwise, abortions will be banned after six weeks unless done to save a pregnant person's life. "We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida," DeSantis, 44, said in a news release. "I applaud the Legislature for passing the Heartbeat Protection Act that expands pro-life protections and provides additional resources for young mothers and families," he added. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs 6-Week Abortion Ban into Law Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Highly Restrictive 15-Week Abortion Ban into Law The legislation comes exactly one year after the Florida governor signed a bill prohibiting abortions after 15 weeks. That law is currently being challenged before the Florida State Supreme Court. The new law would only go into effect if the previous 15-week law is upheld. On Thursday, The White House issued its own rebuttal to the news that the bill had passed in Florida. "This ban would prevent four million Florida women of reproductive age from accessing abortion care after six weeks — before many women even know they're pregnant," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement issued Thursday. The statement added, "This ban would also impact the nearly 15 million women of reproductive age who live in abortion-banning states throughout the South, many of whom have previously relied on travel to Florida as an option to access care." A poll in February done by the University of North Florida found that 75% of the state's residents either somewhat or strongly opposed the six-week ban — including 61% of Republicans.