Gov. Bill Lee announced Thursday that Tennessee Republicans will pursue comprehensive restrictions on abortion this legislative session, building upon an effort last year to pass a controversial fetal heartbeat bill.

Unlike last year’s heartbeat bill, which passed in the House but did not receive support from Lt. Gov. Randy McNally in the Senate, the new approach includes other abortion restrictions and a severability clause.

For example, the legislation will specify that if the heartbeat provision is struck down by the courts, bans on abortion will kick in at eight, 10, 12 weeks and so on — up to the point where bans in other states have been upheld in court, McNally said. Such a strategy is modeled after an approach taken in Missouri.

“Today is an important day for Tennessee,” Lee said as he began the announcement, pausing to avoid becoming emotional. “We know that when a mother views her unborn child and hears a heartbeat, hearts and minds are changed.”FULL STORY HERE