[JURIST] The North Carolina Senate [official website] on Thursday approved a bill [House Bill 695, PDF] requiring abortion clinics to meet requirements similar to those for outpatient surgical centers. The new bill also requires that doctors be present during abortions, bans the procedure based on gender and bars coverage by government provided insurance plans. The bill was then sent to Governor Pat McCrory [official website], who supports the bill and is expected to sign the measure into law.

Recently, other states have attempted to pass similar regulations regarding abortion clinics. Earlier this month, a judge for the US District Court for the Middle District of Alabama delayed enforcement [JURIST report] of an Alabama abortion law until March 2014. Also this month, a judge for the US District Court for the District of North Dakota temporarily blocked [JURIST report] a North Dakota abortion law, calling it unconstitutional. Lastly, this month Texas Governor Rick Perry signed [JURIST report] House Bill number 2, enacting three new restrictions on the practice of abortion.