The Vermont House of Representatives has passed a bill on access to abortion.The final vote: 106 to 36.Heated debate continued Thursday over the controversial bill, which would preserve a woman's right to get an abortion in the Green Mountain State.House Democrats maintained the legislation is all about preserving the same rights women in Vermont have had for the last 46 years."A female who is already working through an emotional and extremely personal situation, with a trained health care provider, and as research shows, with a trusted adult should not have to meet with or wait on a complete stranger to make a decision on her body," Rep. Lori Houghton (D-Essex Junction) said.For the second day in a row, House Republicans offered amendments that would alter or add to the bill.The Democratic majority continued to vote against them."This (amendment) is not about limiting access," Rep. Anne Donahue (R-Northfield) said, introducing one of her amendments that would require parental notification if a minor wanted an abortion. "This is about protecting children -- protecting those who are not yet at the point of having full maturity to make a decision."Many Republican representatives expressed their concern over the bill, and worry about what passing it could imply."At six weeks, there is a heartbeat detectable -- that is a medical fact. The medical facts of a developing baby are just that! It's not a blob," Rep. Marianna Gamache (R-Swanton) said.Debate over one of the amendments questioned details of when and if a fetus is present in the womb."Fifteen percent of pregnancies are an-embryonic, meaning there's no fetus there. Fifteen percent of the time! There's a placenta, there's fluid, there's membranes, but there ain't a fetus," said Rep. George Till (D-Jericho), associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The University of Vermont School of Medicine and a former private practice OB-GYN.“I believe that whether, when, and how a person becomes a parent is a deeply personal decision and that decisions about pregnancy should remain between a woman and her health care professional,” said House Speaker Mitzi Johnson (D-South Hero). “This bill codifies and preserves Vermont women’s access to abortion. Preserving this right is critical as there are no laws on the books protecting or restricting this right. Today’s vote is the first step in ensuring the next generation of Vermont women have the same access to reproductive and abortion care that Vermont women have had for the last 46 years.” A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England applauded the passage of the bill.It now heads to the state Senate for a vote.