ATLANTA – The state Senate passed an anti-abortion bill late Friday after more than four hours of emotional debate over the proposal, which is almost certainly destined for a legal challenge if it becomes law.

The 34-to-18 vote fell along party lines, with all five of the Republican state senators from the CNHI coverage areas supporting the “heartbeat” bill. Two of them – Sen. Greg Kirk and Sen. Chuck Payne – delivered passionate speeches from the well.

“You look at a 4D image of a child in the womb and tell me that baby isn’t alive,” said Kirk, who is from Americus. “I’ve said for years that the pro-life proponents will win this debate because technology removes all doubt that life begins at conception.”

The bill would ban most abortions once a heartbeat is detected, which is as early six weeks into a pregnancy and before many women may even know they are pregnant. Georgia law currently allows an abortion until 20 weeks.

There would be a few exceptions, including in the event of a medical emergency that threatens the mother’s life or when the fetus is “medically futile.” A later abortion would also be allowed in cases of rape or incest – if a police report has been filed.

Payne, who is from Dalton, gave a tearful speech in support of the bill – including a reading of a poem he wrote as a 25-year-old about the birth of his daughter.

“The question we have in front of us is are we still going to be a free nation? Do we have a right to life? Do we have a right to liberty? Do we have a right to the pursuit of freedom and happiness?” Payne said.

“Because the very second we decide one person doesn’t, the truth of the matter is none of us do,” he said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia immediately announced Friday night that it would challenge the law if the House signs off on changes made in the Senate and if Gov. Brian Kemp signs off on the bill, which he has vocally supported.

“The whole intent of the bill is to try to get to the Supreme Court. It’s an attempt to get a challenge to Roe v. Wade,” Sen. Ellis Black, who is from Valdosta, said after the vote Friday night, referring to the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

The proposal would also include “unborn” children in the state population and allow parents to claim them as dependents on their income taxes. It would also allow women to seek financial support from fathers for pregnancy and delivery expenses.

“We speak for the unborn child,” said Sen. Renee Unterman, a Republican from Buford and the bill’s sponsor in the Senate.

“We have awakened a sleeping giant watching New York and Virginia state laws change,” Unterman said, referring to attempts in those states to protect abortion rights. “The silent majority is now awake, alive and ready to protect the unborn.”

Democrats countered that the measure would strip women of their right to make their own health care decisions and questioned the wisdom in passing a bill that would usher the state into a costly and uncertain court battle.

A group of mostly female Democrats told reporters after the vote that they would avenge the decision at the ballot box in the coming years.

“That way, we can turn back and actually repeal some of these really archaic laws,” said Sen. Jen Jordan, who is from Atlanta.

Sen. Burt Jones of Jackson did not return a call seeking comment Friday night, and Sen. Dean Burke of Bainbridge said he could not talk after the vote because he was on his way to a meeting.