Governance Like Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) has no constitution and is governed by an Organic Act, which was first enacted in 1954.[1]48 U.S.C. § 1541 et seq. Despite convening five different constitutional conventions, the USVI has not adopted a local constitution. In 1968, Congress amended the Organic Act to extend both due process […]
Restrictions On March 21, 2023, Wyoming enacted a total abortion ban with an immediate effective date; currently, the law is subject to a preliminary injunction and is not in effect.[1]H.B. 152, 67th Leg., Reg. Sess. (WY 2023) to be codified at Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-6-102 et seq.; Johnson v. State, No. 18853 (Wy. Dist. […]
Restrictions On September 13, 2022, West Virginia began enforcing its total ban on abortion, which prohibits abortion at all stages of pregnancy, except in the case of a “nonmedically viable fetus”, ectopic pregnancy, or medical emergency.[1]W. Va. Code §16-2R-3. Survivors and victims of rape and incest can obtain abortions up to eight weeks of gestation, […]
Restrictions After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the Wisconsin Attorney General, the Department of Safety and Professional Services, and the Medical Examining Board filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that the 1849 pre-Roe criminal abortion ban is unenforceable.[1]Kaul et al. v. Kapenga et al., Case No. 2022-CV-001594 (Wis. Cir. Ct. June 28, 2022) (complaint). […]
Restrictions Virginia law generally prohibits abortion after viability, unless performed by a licensed physician in a licensed hospital with three physicians certifying that the continuation of the pregnancy will result in death of the pregnant person or impair their mental or physical health.[1]VA. CODE ANN. §§ 18.2-71, 18.2-74 It also prohibits the D&X method of […]
Restrictions Rhode Island law generally prohibits post-viability abortions.[1]23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.13-2(d). The state requires that a parent, legal guardian,[2]23 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 23-4.7-6. or judge[3]Id. consent to a minor’s abortion. Providers who violate Rhode Island’s abortion restrictions may face civil penalties.[4]See, e.g., id. § 23-4.7-7. State Protections In 2019, Rhode Island enacted […]
Restrictions South Carolina is enforcing a 6-week abortion ban[1]S. 474, 125th Gen. Assemb., Spec. Sess. (S.C. 2023). after the South Carolina Supreme Court declared the ban to be constitutional.[2]Planned Parenthood S. Atl. v. South Carolina, No. 2023-000896 (S.C. Aug. 23, 2023) (order vacating the preliminary injunction and declaring the act constitutional), Planned Parenthood S. Atl […]
Restrictions On June 24, 2022, South Dakota began enforcing its trigger ban, which prohibits all abortions except to preserve the life of the pregnant person,[1]S.D. Codified Laws § 22-17-5.1. following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.[2]Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org., 597 […]
Restrictions On August 25, 2022, Tennessee began enforcing its trigger ban, which prohibits abortion at all stages of pregnancy with limited medical emergency exceptions,[1]Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-15-213 (stating that the ban will take effect thirty days after “the issuance of the judgment…of the United States Supreme Court” which took place on July 28, 2022); … […]
Restrictions Texas’s trigger ban, which criminalizes abortion, took effect on August 25, 2022,[1]Tex. Health & Safety Code §§ 170A.001-7 (stating that the ban will take effect thirty days after “the issuance of a United States Supreme Court judgment in a decision overruling, wholly or … Continue reading following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade […]
