TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A controversial abortion bill was passed in the Florida House of Representatives early Thursday, approving a ban on abortions after 15 weeks.

The GOP-controlled House passed the bill after several hours of debate between Democrats who said the measure would impose an unnecessary burden on women and Republicans who said they were protecting the unborn.

The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate.

“This is the right to life and to give up life is unconscionable to me,” said Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy, who disclosed that she previously had an abortion but has “regretted it everyday since.”

Republicans in several state legislatures are moving to place new restrictions on abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court signaled it would uphold a Mississippi law prohibiting abortions after 15 weeks and potentially overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. A decision in that case is expected later this year.

Advocates in Central Florida either feel the passage is a win or that it doesn't go far enough. 

“I would like to see a brave politician begin to take the stand of granting personhood back to the unborn children to declare them persons,” said Michele Herzog, the director of Pro-Life Action Ministries of Central Florida.

Herzog believes life begins at the moment of conception, so she’s against abortion at any time.

Florida’s bill contains exceptions if the abortion is necessary to save a mother’s life, prevent serious injury to the mother or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. The state currently allows abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Stephanie Fraim, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, argues the decision of whether or not to have an abortion should be left up to each individual.

“We don’t know a person’s personal circumstances, we don’t walk in their shoes,” she said. “So that decision to choose adoption, end of pregnancy or raise a child, is always best left to the pregnant person, their family, their faith and their physician.”

Republicans have repeatedly rejected attempts from Democrats to add additional exceptions in the bill for pregnancies caused by rape, incest or human trafficking.

“As a woman it is my right to make decisions about my body and what is in the best interest of my family,” said Rep. Robin Bartleman, a Democrat. “God forbid your 11 year old is raped and pregnant and you find out after 15 weeks, you don’t get to get your daughter that abortion, that’s what this law says.”

Near the end of the House debate, a group of activists in the House gallery broke out into a chant of “my body, my choice,” forcing the chamber to pause before lawmakers cast their votes.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has previously signaled his support for the proposal.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.