Missouri's Republican-controlled legislature passed a bill on Wednesday requiring women seeking abortions to wait 72 hours after visiting the doctor to terminate the pregnancy, according to Fox News.
Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, said he will not sign or veto the bill.
Currently, the state requires a 24-hour waiting period -- tripling the amount of time women need to wait for abortion services. Missouri joins Utah and South Dakota in creating the three-day time frame.
There is only one clinic in Missouri providing elective abortions, Fox News said.
State lawmakers voted 111-39 in favor of the legislation. Nixon has previously allowed abortion restrictions to be enacted without his signature, including a law requiring doctors to be present during the process of injecting the initial abortion drug.
On Tuesday, the governor said he would review the bill and make a decision from there.
While the old and new abortion laws do not apply to women with emergency medical needs, it does apply to victims of rape and incest.
Supporters of the bill say the three-day period allows women more time to digest the information given to them by doctors and more time to think about hearing the fetus' heartbeat on an ultrasound.
"Life is precious. I want to make sure the unborn child has a chance to survive," said Republican state Sen. David Sater.
However, opponents argue the waiting period not only pushes the pregnancy along -- making abortion services more risky -- but also is more costly, considering many women will have to spend overnight trips or travel back and forth to Missouri's sole clinic.
"The idea that a woman would not have taken this time already is insulting," said Democratic Rep. Genise Montecillo.
Pro-choice advocates gathered at the state Capitol on Monday to protest the legislation.
"I think the 72 hours is way too long," St. Louis resident Madi Mauck said. "Making them wait longer is an emotional and financial burden."
