Abortion Laws in the United States

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In the United States, the legality of abortion is governed by the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which established a woman’s constitutional right to abortion. However, individual states can regulate abortion within certain limits, and there are some states that have passed laws that effectively make it more difficult or even impossible to get an abortion.

As of April 2023, the following states have passed laws that either ban abortion outright or severely restrict access to abortion:

• Alabama: Passed a law in 2019 that would ban abortion at any stage of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The law has been blocked by a federal court and is not currently in effect.
• Arkansas: Passed a law in 2021 that would ban abortion except to save the life of the woman in a medical emergency. The law is currently blocked by a federal court and is not in effect.
• Georgia: Passed a law in 2019 that would ban abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant. The law has been blocked by a federal court and is not in effect.
• Mississippi: Passed a law in 2018 that would ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with few exceptions. The law has been blocked by a federal court and is not in effect.
• Texas: Passed a law in 2021 that effectively bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant. The law allows private citizens to sue anyone who assists a woman in getting an abortion, including medical providers, with a minimum of $10,000 in damages per successful lawsuit. The law is currently in effect, but is facing legal challenges.

It’s important to note that these laws are being challenged in court and their status may change. Additionally, access to abortion may be restricted in other ways in some states, such as mandatory waiting periods or required counseling.