INDIANAPOLIS (AP): Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is facing a deadline to take action on a measure that would ban abortions because of fetal genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome.

Pence reiterated his anti-abortion stance when he spoke about the measure Wednesday. Thursday is the deadline for him to act on bills the General Assembly has approved. Pence could allow the bill to go into law by not signing it, but it would take a veto to halt the measure.

The bill would also require burial or cremation of miscarried or aborted fetuses.

The bill has drawn backlash from medical professionals and several female Republican members of the Indiana Legislature who say the bill goes too far in telling women what they can and cannot do.

If it became law, Indiana would be the second state after North Dakota to have such restrictions.