— Idaho outlawed the abortion of an unborn child whose heartbeat can be detected in a bill signed March 23 by Gov. Brad Little. A heartbeat can be detected as early as five to six weeks gestation. Like a 2021 Texas law, the measure authorizes a private citizen – in this case, a family member — to bring a civil lawsuit against someone who performs a prohibited abortion.
— South Dakota barred mail-order abortion drugs in a proposal endorsed March 23 by Gov. Kristi Noem.
— West Virginia banned abortion based on the diagnosed disability of an unborn child in a measure signed March 21 by Gov. Jim Justice.
— Wyoming enacted a prohibition on abortion that would be triggered if the Supreme Court overturns Roe in legislation signed by Gov. Mark Gordon and announced by his office March 15.
Meanwhile, abortion-rights supporters have both criticized the actions of pro-life lawmakers and gained adoption in some states of measures protecting or expanding access to the procedure.
After Florida’s enactment of its ban, Mini Timmaraju, president of NARAL Pro-choice America, called it “a shameless step towards what could be a terrifying new future for reproductive freedom in the country. Anti-choice politicians across the United States, emboldened by the Supreme Court’s anti-choice supermajority, are clamoring at the opportunity to enact abortion bans like Mississippi’s.”
Seven states have enacted 11 abortion-supporting laws in 2022, according to Guttmacher. Among these:
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— Maryland mandated $3.5 million in the yearly budget to provide training for abortion providers when the General Assembly overturned Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto April 9.
— Colorado enacted a law signed April 4 by Gov. Jared Polis that guarantees the decision to abort an unborn child is a “fundamental right” and bars state and local governments – and any other “public entity” – from interfering with a woman’s right to an abortion. Some observers contend the law goes so far as to legalize infanticide of newly born children.
— New Jersey adopted legislation in January to protect abortion as a fundamental right.
— The Vermont House of Representatives passed in February an amendment to the state constitution that would enshrine abortion rights. Vermont voters are expected to endorse the amendment in November.
— Four states – California, Maryland, New York and Oregon – have approved bills to require health plans to provide abortion coverage or to designate state money for abortion services, according to Guttmacher.
Abortion-rights backers have introduced 231 proposals in 29 states and the District of Columbia this year, Guttmacher reported.
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In the case being considered by the Supreme Court, Mississippi and many pro-life organizations, including the ERLC, asked in briefs filed with the justices that they reverse not only Roe but the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey opinion that affirmed that decision.
This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.
