North Dakota lawmakers have passed what could become the strictest anti-abortion law in the country, banning abortion as early as six weeks into pregnancy, or possibly even earlier, as soon as an embryonic heartbeat can be detected by a transvaginal ultrasound. The bill would ban abortion in the earliest stages of pregnancy at a time when many women have not even realized they are pregnant. The vote in North Dakota comes roughly a week after Arkansas banned abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy. In addition to the six-week ban, North Dakota lawmakers passed a measure that would make it the first state to ban abortions sought because the fetus has a genetic abnormality. Both bills would need the signature of Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple.