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St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - Surrounded by approximately 100 state lawmakers and others, Governor Tim Walz today signed the controversial Protect Reproductive Act into law.

The legislation, which is often referred to as the PRO Act, places the right to have an abortion without restrictions into Minnesota law. It was approved by the Democrat majorities in both the Minnesota House and Senate on largely party-line votes. The lone exception was Democrat Gene Pelowski of Winona who joined the minority Republicans in voting against the measure.

Passing the new law was a central campaign promise made by Governor Walz and Democrat lawmakers in the run-up to last fall's elections in response to the US Supreme Court decision to reverse the 1972 Roe versus Wade ruling that legalized abortion in all 50 states. A 1995 ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court already guaranteed access to abortions under the state constitution, but supporters of the PRO Act argued it was needed in case a future State Supreme Court overturned that decision.

Republican lawmakers and other opponents of the new law say it is the most extreme abortion law in the US and allows abortions all the way up to the time of birth.

TRIBUTE: 29 U.S. Service Members From Minnesota Killed During the War in Afghanistan

After 20 years of war, 29 men and women from Minnesota made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan while serving our country during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Scroll through the photos below and pay tribute to our fellow Minnesotans who served with valor.

The information below comes from the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count