A Florida Senate panel approved a measure Tuesday to take a vote on the bill that would require women to wait 24 hours before having an abortion.
With time winding down in a Senate Health Policy Committee meeting, lawmakers agreed to take a vote on the bill - without much public testimony.
The measure passed along party lines. The vote couldn't be postponed, otherwise the bill would have died.
However, part of the debate on Tuesday became less about the restriction and more about the bill being fast-tracked.
Senate Bill 724 would require women to have counseling from their physician before coming back 24 hours later for an abortion procedure.
Another measure, House Bill 147, with less chance of passage, would require that abortion clinic doctors have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles.
Waiting periods and admitting privileges have been part of unsuccessful Florida legislation in past years, but not as separate bills.
Abortion opponents say the measures are intended to safeguard women's health, but some acknowledge that restricting access and cutting the number of abortions is one goal.
Tampa Sen. Arthenia Joyner (D) was the lone lawmaker to speak during the debate period, along with two citizens of 32 that signed up to speak.
"At the time that the decision is made, women make their best judgment about their lives at that point in time," said Joyner, the Minority Leader. "And you can't always look back and say 'what if'."
The bill still has to win the backing of two more Senate committees before it can be put up before a vote.
Also, a companion bill (HB 633) will be debated before a Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday.