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JEFFERSON CITY — The leader of the Missouri House says he is ready to vote for a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban abortion but allow some exceptions for survivors of rape and incest.

House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, told reporters Thursday that could be debated on the House floor within the next two weeks.

Stinnett’s proposal seeks to reinstate the prohibition with an exception for victims of rape or incest who seek an abortion in the first 12 weeks of gestation but who first report the assault to police. The measure also bans medical treatments for transgender youth and would allow abortions during an ectopic pregnancy.

Patterson, a physician, said the measure is likely to be altered as it moves through the process, but not in a way that would draw much support from abortion rights advocates.

“I do expect changes,� Patterson said. “I expect there will still be more refining of the legislation with a goal of getting something out that our members can vote on.�

His comments come as Planned Parenthood has begun performing abortions again after Missouri voters overturned a ban on the procedure in November.

The speaker’s position on the measure is a flip-flop from last year, when, during his reelection bid, Patterson said lawmakers should “respect the will of the people� and not attempt to overturn the November vote.

Later, when his speakership was being challenged by the right flank of the party, Patterson said, “There’s no amendment that’s passed that can’t be changed or improved upon.�

Missouri’s now-repealed abortion ban went into effect in June 2022, minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

In November, however, 51.6% of Missouri voters overturned the ban by codifying in the state constitution the right to reproductive health care, including abortion up until the point of fetal viability.

The issue remains entangled in a legal fight after Planned Parenthood sued the state in a bid to remove some of the regulations imposed on abortion providers by the state.

Even with Patterson’s support, some hardline abortion opponents in both chambers say House Joint Resolution 54 will not produce a strong enough law because it includes exceptions.

In the Senate for example, Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, is pushing a competing amendment without the exceptions for rape or incest.

Moon’s proposal defines “person� in the state constitution as “every human being with a unique DNA code regardless of age, including every in utero human child at every stage of biological development from the moment of conception until birth.�

In the House, Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, sponsored legislation that would criminalize doctors who don’t provide life-saving care to infants born during an unsuccessful abortion.

Known as the “born alive abortion survivors protection act,� the measure won approval on a party line vote Thursday and now heads to the Senate for further debate.

also could allow legal action against anyone who assists another person in obtaining a “self-managed� abortion.

Opponents said Missouri already has laws on the books that outlaw murder.