MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The Wisconsin state Senate has passed a Republican-backed bill that would limit abortions paid for under the new federal health care reform law.

The bill passed on a party line 17-16 vote Thursday would forbid insurance plans offered in Wisconsin under the law from covering abortions unless certain criteria are met.

The only abortions that would be covered are those in which the mother's health is at risk or the pregnancy was the result of sexual assault or incest.

States are allowed to prohibit abortions under state exchanges that are to be established by 2014 under the federal law. Exchanges are an online marketplace for individuals and small businesses to shop for health insurance.

Wisconsin law already prohibits the use of taxpayer money to pay for most abortions.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)