As conservative statesAcross the country, they continue to passRestrictive abortion lawsOther states are also introducing and passing legislation that will enshrine abortion as a statewide right. The moves are in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Mississippi’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health OrganizationThis puts into question the authority Roe v. Wade. The landmark SCOTUS decision affirms that abortion is a constitutional right. However, if the DobbsJune’s SCOTUS Decision overrules Curttails Roe v. WadeAbortion rights will remain in the hands of state legislators. Many states like Florida and Idaho are already enacting “trigger laws” that render abortions illegal past 15 and six weeks, respectively. Other states, such as New Jersey, Vermont, and Colorado, have also introduced or passed statewide protections in response to the potential loss of constitutional protections. The latest is Colorado’s Reproductive Health Equity Act(RHEA) was passed by the majority-Democratic state House on March 10.
Reproductive justice group Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) RHEA was passed by the Senate on March 3. The state currently does not explicitly support abortion access, but has relied upon the constitutional protection. Roe v. Wade RHEA will ensure that Colorado law allows abortion access. Dusti Gurule, president of COLOR and CEO, said that proactive legislation is crucial to expand and secure abortion access in Colorado. Since 2010, 44 attempts The Statehouse voted down the proposal to ban or restrict abortions.
“It’s about dignity, humanity, freedom, and access,” Gurule said. “We think the timing is important for Colorado lawmakers now to enact the Reproductive Health Equity Act because we know that our work is not done, and this is the floor, this is not the ceiling. We will continue to broaden our coalitions so we can ensure that the right to abortion is not continually attacked as it is every year.”
In the months that followed Texas Bill Senate Bill 8 The law was passed in September 2021 making abortions illegal after approximately six weeks. All Colorado abortion clinics experienced an increase in a 130% increase Patients from Texas travel to Texas to receive care. One clinic is able to see them all. 520% increase. If RHEA passes, it will ensure that Colorado is an option for Texans seeking abortion care.
“By seeing those numbers increase of people who are able to travel here, there’s probably two or three that need the care that aren’t able to travel,” Gurule said. “That’s why we really want to set the tone for our region to move these issues forward.”
The right to abortion is protected in 15 states and the District of Columbia. 21 states, on the other hand, have laws that could be used in order to restrict abortion’s legal status. Three states (New Jersey, OregonThe District of Columbia and Vermont have both codified the right of abortion during pregnancy without state interference. 12 specifically permit abortion prior or during viability.
New Jersey Governor. Phil Murphy signed the Freedom of Reproductive Choice ActThe state has the right to ban abortions.
“Today, New Jerseyans who can become pregnant will no longer question our right to make fundamental decisions about our health, our lives, and our futures,” said Roxanne Sutocky, the director of community engagement for the Cherry Hill Women’s Center, in a statement. “We appreciate the efforts of the legislature and the governor to pass this historic legislation, and we call on these representatives to do more to eliminate the remaining barriers which fall hardest on people working to make ends meet, people living in rural areas, undocumented people, and LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities disproportionately impacted by systemic racism and reproductive oppression.”
In February, the Vermont House of Representatives approved the “Reproductive Liberty Amendment,” an amendment that would enshrine what legislators refer to as “reproductive autonomy” in the state constitution. The amendment will ensure that the state cannot restrict abortion rights in the future, and since it refers to “reproductive autonomy,” it will also protect rights to birth control access. The proposal will be decided in November by the voters, and is likely to pass. According to pollsAccording to Pew Research Center, 70% believe that abortion should be legal in all or most instances.
California lawmakers are also creating bills that would make California a sanctuary state for abortions. Gov. Gavin Newsom convened The California Future of Abortion Council September identify barriers To help women seeking abortion access and recommend policies solutions, including helping to cover the cost of the procedure as well as transportation, lodging, food and lost wages.
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