New Tool Shows State of Abortion Law and Abortion Access Across America

(PRESS RELEASE) – Today, the Center for Reproductive Rights unveiled a new and improved digital tool, What if Roe Fell, showing the current state of abortion access across the United States, including the 5 most populous U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.  If the Supreme Court limits or overturns Roe v. Wade, abortion access would be at risk in almost one-half of U.S. states. The new tool shows that abortion access is challenging in many parts of the U.S. due to state restrictions.

For the first time in three years, the tool has been overhauled to add new search features so users can sort states based on the types of bans, restrictions, and protections in place in each state. Not only is this the most comprehensive digital map on abortion access currently available, it showcases the importance of the courts that have permanently prevented many abortion bans and restrictions from going into effect as well as those laws currently on hold as the Center and other organizations challenge the laws in state and federal courts.

“What if Roe Fell shows the devastating landscape of abortion access if Roe is weakened or overturned,” said Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “We have analyzed the laws and constitutional protections of every state. This tool is a call to action to pass state and federal laws protecting abortion rights and abortion access.”  

This one-of-a-kind interactive digital map provides an overview of current abortion bans, restrictions, and protections across the country, including:

• Trigger bans – abortion bans that could be triggered if the federal right is overturned


• Abortion bans broken down by the number of weeks of pregnancy


• 7 kinds of restrictions targeting specifically abortion providers (facility requirements, admitting privileges, etc.)

The Center’s new map shows the state of abortion access in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five most populous U.S. territories:

• 7 states have expanded access to abortion care and protect abortion rights under state law: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.


• 14 states protect abortion rights under state law: Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, and Rhode Island


• 8 states/district/territories where abortion is not protected under state, district or territory law: Colorado, District of Columbia, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and Wyoming.


• 24 states/territories that are hostile to abortion: Alabama, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, the Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin

The map also shows laws are on the books that are currently on hold due to litigation as well as laws that have been blocked from going into effect.

What If Roe Fell also includes a glossary of terms commonly used in abortion conversations, as well as a comprehensive history of abortion access across the U.S. since the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe in 1973.

###

MEDIA CONTACT: Kelly Krause; [email protected]; 917-637-3649