CTN News – Discover the latest developments in abortion legislation in US states since last year’s Supreme Court decision in Roe v. After Wade was replaced, the Legislature faced difficulties in expanding or limiting access. This comprehensive snapshot outlines pending and passed laws to protect or limit abortion rights in 2023.
Protections:
California: The state Senate approved a bill to protect doctors who prescribe medical abortion pills to out-of-state patients.
Michigan: Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation in April repealing a 1931 bill that criminalized abortion.
Illinois: Governor JB Pritzker signed a law in January to protect abortion providers and out-of-state patients from legal attacks from other states.
Minnesota: Governor Tim Walls signed legislation into state law enshrining abortion rights, contraception and fertility treatments and protecting abortion providers and patients from legal attacks from other states.
Ohio: Abortion rights advocates aim to collect signatures for a constitutional amendment asserting abortion rights with a July deadline. Currently, abortion is legal up to 22 weeks.
Restrictions:
Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a six-week abortion ban in April after the state Supreme Court ruled the current 15-week ban was constitutional.
Montana: Gov. Greg Gianforte signed several bills into law in May, including one to overturn a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling protecting abortion rights. Another law temporarily blocked by a state judge bans second-trimester abortions by outlawing common surgical procedures.
Nebraska: Governor.Jim Palin signed a bill in May that would ban gender custody of children and ban abortions for gestations longer than 12 weeks, with the first 22 weeks being legal. Time
North Carolina: In May, Republican lawmakers overruled Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto on limiting most abortions to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Exceptions are rape, adultery, life-limiting fetal abnormalities, and maternal life. The law requires the presence of a doctor when administering abortion drugs and a personal consultation 72 hours before a medical abortion.The proposed changes are currently under review as a federal lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the bill.
North Dakota: Gov. Doug Burgum signs legislation in April banning abortion unless the mother’s life or health is in grave danger. Exemption for victims of rape and adultery is limited to the first six weeks of pregnancy.
Texas: Abortion is illegal with few exceptions, but legislation has been enacted to prevent ISPs from hosting abortion-related websites.
Wyoming: State judge temporarily stays bill banning abortion drugs. Survival abortions (about 24 weeks) are legal while a short-term “lead-in” ban is under consideration.