[JURIST] The South Dakota House State Affairs committee [official website] has approved a new bill [House Bill 1293 materials] that would criminalize abortions in the state, but grant exceptions for rape, aggravated incest and to prevent the death of the mother. According to the bill, "the state has a right and duty to protect the life of the unborn child, and to protect the life, health, and well-being of any pregnant woman within its jurisdiction, and it is therefore necessary to reasonably balance these interests to allow abortions only in [these] certain circumstances." Last year, the South Dakota legislature passed [JURIST report] a law banning most abortions [text, PDF] in the state, but voters rejected it [JURIST report] at the polls in November. If the latest measure is approved by the state legislature, South Dakotans will vote on it during the next state general election.

Last month, the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit [official website] announced that it will rehear arguments on a preliminary injunction imposed last year [JURIST report] which prevented the enforcement of a similar 2005 South Dakota abortion law [text]. The Argus Leader has more.