TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A board in Kansas has unanimously approved new regulations for abortion providers, moving the state closer to becoming the first in the nation without a clinic or doctor’s office performing the procedures.

Approval of the rules Thursday by the State Rules and Regulations Board was necessary for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to begin enforcing them Friday.

But providers have filed a federal lawsuit and hope to block the rules. Kansas has three abortion providers, all in the Kansas City area.

The regulations tell providers what equipment and drugs they must stock and set space an temperature requirements for procedure and recovery rooms.

Supporters say the rules will protect patients. But critics say they’re burdensome by design and really aimed at shutting down abortion services.