A Louisiana House committee approved without opposition Wednesday legislation that, when passed in other states, helped shut down abortion clinics.
House Bill 388 goes to the full House of Representatives, which could vote on it as early as next week.
Opponents say the idea behind the legislation mirrors a nationwide strategy to create requirements that few abortion clinics can meet.
Backed by Gov. Bobby Jindal, HB388 would require physicians who perform abortions to have active admitting privileges at a hospital that provides obstetrical-gynecological services and is within 30 miles of the place where the abortion is performed.