After Roe Fell: U.S. Abortion Laws by State

Expanded Access

Vermont

Abortion will remain legal in Vermont. In 2019, Vermont enacted a statutory provision protecting abortion as a fundamental right, and in 2022, Vermonters approved a state constitutional amendment that enshrines the right to reproductive freedom in the state constitution.

State Legal Details

Restrictions in Effect

  • TRAP requirements: Providers, Reporting Requirement

State Protections

Vermont enacted an independent statutory protection for abortion as a fundamental right throughout pregnancy in June 2019.1

The State of Vermont recognizes the fundamental right of every individual who becomes pregnant to choose to carry a pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child, or to have an abortion. … [A public entity] shall not, in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information, deny or interfere with an individual’s fundamental rights to choose or refuse contraception or sterilization or to choose to carry a pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child, or to obtain an abortion. No State or local law enforcement shall prosecute any individual for inducing, performing, or attempting to induce or perform the individual’s own abortion.

Vermont provides public funding for medically necessary abortions.2 The state does not restrict the type of health-care practitioner who can provide abortion care.3

In November 2022, Vermonters approved a legislatively-referred state constitutional amendment that enshrines the right to reproductive freedom in the state constitution.4 In 2023, Vermont enacted interstate shield laws protecting providers, patients, and people who help others access abortion and gender affirming care from professional licensure consequences, the reach of out-of-state investigations and legal actions, and the disclosure of information.5 These protections apply regardless of the patient’s location.6

In March 2025, Vermont enhanced its shield laws by creating reciprocity with other states that also safeguard access to reproductive health care and gender-affirming health care services;7 allowing the removal of prescriber and pharmacist names from prescription labels for non-controlled substances used for medication abortion and gender-affirming care;8 allowing asynchronous telehealth services for medication abortion;9 and strengthening consumer protection law provisions related to advertising about health care services.10

Restrictions

Vermont requires abortion providers to submit reports to the state.11

Historical Restrictions

Vermont had a pre-Roe statute that imposed criminal penalties on third parties who assisted with or performed an abortion. It was held invalid by the Vermont Supreme Court in 1972 and expressly repealed by the legislature in 2014.12

Conclusion

Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe, Abortion remails legal in Vermont. In 2019, Vermont enacted a statutory provision protecting abortion as a fundamental right, and in 2022, Vermonters approved a state constitutional amendment that enshrines the right to reproductive freedom in the state constitution.

  1. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, § 9493 et seq. ↩︎
  2. Doe v. Celani, No. S81-84CnC at 5 (Vt. Super. Ct. May 26, 1986) (holding that a ban on Medicaid funding violated the Vermont state constitution). ↩︎
  3. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, § 9497. ↩︎
  4. Vt. Const. Amend. No. 5, Leg. Sess. (2021-2022); Lindsay Whitehurst, Abortion rights protected in Michigan, California, Vermont, AP News (Nov. 9, 2022), https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-us-supreme-court-health-michigan-23bfba4a07de57b175d9de1281ecace6. ↩︎
  5. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 1, § 150(b)(1)(B); (C). ↩︎
  6. See Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 1, § 150(b)(1)(B). ↩︎
  7. S. 28, Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. 2025-2026 (Vt. 2025) to be codified at Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 1 § 150(b)(1)(4). ↩︎
  8. S. 28, Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. 2025-2026 (Vt. 2025) to be codified at Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 2024. ↩︎
  9. S. 28, Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. 2025-2026 (Vt. 2025) to be codified at Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 26 § 1354(C)(iv). ↩︎
  10. S. 28, Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. 2025-2026 (Vt. 2025) to be codified at Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 3 § 129a(a)(2); Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9, ch. 63, subch. 11 § 2493(a); Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 26 §§ 1354(2), 1736(a)(2). ↩︎
  11. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, § 5222. ↩︎
  12. See Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13, §§ 101-104, invalidated by Beecham v. Leahy, 130 Vt. 164, 170, 287 A.2d 836, 840 (Vt. 1972), repealed by 2013, No. 98 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Mar. 24, 2014.01-104, invalidated by Beecham v. Leahy, 130 Vt. 164, 170, 287 A.2d 836, 840 (Vt. 1972), repealed by 2013, No. 98, u00a7 1, eff. Mar. 24, 2014. ↩︎