( CNN ) -- North Carolina 's Senate passed a restrictive abortion bill Thursday , and it now heads to Gov . Pat McCrory , who is expected to sign it . The bill was passed by North Carolina 's House of Representatives this month . The bill would place requirements on clinics that family planning advocates say would make it hard for them to stay in business . Among the requirements is the presence of a doctor when an abortion is being performed . The bill would also allow North Carolina 's health department to make temporary new rules for the state 's 31 abortion clinics as it sees fit . It prohibits government-administered insurance plans , such as those under the Affordable Care Act , from paying for abortions -- though it makes exceptions when a pregnancy endangers a woman 's life . `` The recent House version allows the medical professionals at the Department of Health and Human Services to write the rules which will ensure women 's safety . I want to thank those who worked on an improved bill which will better protect women while not further limiting access , '' McCrory said after the House bill passed . Planned Parenthood called on the governor to veto the legislation . The group said more than 35,000 people signed a petition urging him to do just that . `` Make no mistake : These dangerous and deeply unpopular restrictions would endanger women 's health and safety . Governor McCrory should keep the promise he made to North Carolina women during his campaign and veto the bill sent to him today by the legislature , '' Cecile Richards , president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund , said in a statement . `` This bill would take women back 40 years , and we wo n't go back , '' she said . CNN 's Joe Sutton and Ben Brumfield contributed to this report .
Gov . Pat McCrory is expected to sign the legislation . It would require doctors to be present at an abortion , limit insurance coverage . `` This bill would take women back 40 years , '' Planned Parenthood activist says .