Some lawmakers in Missouri, United States, have proposed allowing women who have abortions to be charged with homicide.
The call on Saturday goes further than anti-abortion groups wanted, and seeks to apply the law on behalf of any "unborn child at every stage of development".
Republicans have introduced bills to both houses, to be considered by lawmakers in January.
It would exempt women who have abortions due to being coerced or threatened, or if a doctor does it to save the woman's life.
"It's just about protecting a baby's life like we do every other person's life," said Bob Titus, a Missouri state Republican senator.
He added prosecuting women for abortions "is just a consequence of taking an innocent human life".
If passed, the bills would make Missouri one of 14 states with bans on abortions at all stages of pregnancy and with few exceptions.
Titus said he didn't base the bill on other legislation, despite being similar to a bill by Republican state senator Mike Moon, who represents the same area as Titus.
Since 2022, voters have been in favour of more abortion rights in all seven states where ballot questions have been asked on the topic.
The move by Missouri Republicans comes after the US Supreme Court overturned the Roe v Wade (1973) ruling in June 2022.
Most Republican-lead states have adopted restrictions, while the Democrat-lead states have eased them.
Similar bills were introduced in Missouri earlier this year, along with Kentucky, Arkansas, South Carolina, Colorado, and Georgia.
The Kentucky bill was killed after the state's Republican attorney general and other leaders opposed it.
Meanwhile, in South Carolina, more than 20 Republicans sponsored a bill that would've classified abortion as homicide, but lawmakers there later adopted a ban on abortions after six weeks into a pregnancy.
Voters in several states will likely get the chance to have their say on abortion-related measures next year.
