This Week in Abortion: State Policy Round Up
A collection of good reads, events from the week, and policy insights.
Excited to get back to the regular weekend publishing schedule! If you are still wondering how closely the Trump administration is sticking to the Project 2025 playbook, here is a great resource for tracking its progress.
But, we spent a ton of time covering the federal landscape last week. So today’s letter keeps it simple, providing a quick snapshot of what’s happening in the states and courts. We’ll dig into individual issues over the coming weeks.
As always, I try to focus on bills that are likely to pass and stories that mark a turning point/trend. History is the stuff of clean, pruned trails. But now we’re in it, and it’s going to be one fucking hell of a journey.
The Good
Protections for Providers Pass
New York shields abortion pill prescribers after a doctor was indicted in Louisiana. [Associated Press]
Senate Committee approves bill to expand Colorado’s shield law for abortion providers [Colorado Newsline]
States Expand and Reinforce Access
Virginia Democrats pass constitutional amendments blasted by Republicans [Associated Press]
Mass. lawmakers push for abortion without trimester limits [GBH]
Local Abortion Restrictions Preempted in New Mexico [State Court Report]
Abortion Pill Maker Enters Legal Fight Over F.D.A. Rules [NYTimes]
Some Abortion Bans Fail
Supreme Court rejects challenges to abortion clinic ‘buffer zone’ laws that restrict protesters [NBC]
Abortion remains legal in ND after State Supreme Court denies effort to reinstate ban [KXNET]
New Hampshire House officially axes 15-week abortion ban proposal [New Hampshire Bulletin]
Anti-Access States Are Covering Their Asses
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Legislature should clarify Texas abortion law to protect mothers at risk [Associated Press]
Georgia House sends bill to protect access to fertilization treatment to state Senate [Georgia Recorder]
Tennessee Republicans sponsor abortion ban exception bill [Tennessee Lookout]
The Bad
Anti-Abortion Education Agenda Advances
Anti-abortion ‘Baby Olivia’ video could become required viewing for some schoolkids [States Newsroom] (But, not in Arkansas.) Arkansas legislative committee rejects fetal development bill [Arkansas Advocate]
DeSantis administration launches state-supported pregnancy website [Florida Phoenix]
Utah House passes bill to ban Planned Parenthood educators from schools [Cascade PBS]
Criminalization of Care Continues
Tennessee Republican Wants to Make Mailing Abortion Pills Punishable With $5 Million Fine [Jezebel]
Texas Judge Fines New York Doctor and Orders Her to Stop Sending Abortion Pills to Texas [NYTimes]
Criminal abortion ‘trafficking’ bill gets hearing before first committee [Montana Free Press]
Conception Personhood Movement Persists
Republican senator refiles bill permitting suits in wrongful death of fetuses [Florida Phoenix]
In Some States, New Restrictions Are Always Around the Corner
Abortions are still limited in Missouri 2 weeks after ruling here's why [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Missouri ‘born-alive’ bill could open door to abortion medication lawsuits [Missouri Independent]
Lawmaker introduces legislation to counter winning abortion ballot measure [Arizona Capitol Times]
Ohio lawmakers finalizing bill that ends executions, with an anti-abortion measure attached [Ohio Public Radio and Television]
The future of procedural abortion in Wyoming is in doubt after Gordon signs bill [Wyoming Public Radio]
Iowa lawmakers work to restrict medication abortion access, inform about abortion pill reversal [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
Lawmaker proposes new medication abortion requirements, documentation in Nebraska [Nebraska Examiner]
Texas judge allows 3 states to advance efforts to restrict access to abortion pill mifepristone [CBS News]
Funding Cuts Are Spreading
Aderholt introduces bill to cut federal funds for Planned Parenthood [Alabama Political Reporter]
The Ugly: Stockpiling Meds
More and more states are stockpiling abortion medication. Connecticut, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York are all building or have built reserves of mifepristone and/or its partner misoprostol. It’s easy to see the appeal here. But stockpiling comes with its own issues including the potential for scarcity and inequities in access. Better, at least, that states do this now and not in the wake of an FDA change or Supreme Court Ruling. Coordination is key.