Abortion Bans
In the News

Abortion bans are provisions that completely ban abortion at some point in pregnancy. This includes bans based on time or fetal development, including 20-week bans and heartbeat laws that would ban abortion as early as six weeks, bans achieved by prohibiting the use of a specific medical procedure and bans based on the motivation of the woman seeking the abortion, such as race- and sex-selection bans.

Texas Lawmakers Broker Quiet Agreement on Women's Health Funds; House Panel Approves 20-Week Ban
Monday, May 6, 2013
Democrats and Republicans in the Texas Legislature are "quietly" working together to restore women's health funding, marking a sharp contrast from the "high-octane drama" over cuts to women's health services in recent years, the Texas Tribune/New York Times reports.

N.C. House Panel Advances Bill Banning Abortions Based on Sex of the Fetus
Friday, May 3, 2013
A North Carolina House committee on Wednesday approved a bill (HB 716) that would ban physicians from "knowingly or recklessly" performing an abortion when the sex of the fetus is a "significant factor" in a woman's request for the procedure, AP/WRAL reports.

Featured Blog
Friday, May 3, 2013
"The Importance of Roe vs. Wade" (Joseph Blady, Huffington Post blogs, 5/1).

Rep. Franks Reintroduces 20-Week Abortion Ban for Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Following the failure of a nearly identical bill (HR 3803) last year, Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) on Friday introduced legislation (HR 1797) that would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy in Washington, D.C., The Hill's "Healthwatch" reports.

In Planned Parenthood Speech, President Obama Criticizes 'Absurd' Antiabortion Laws
Monday, April 29, 2013
In a speech to Planned Parenthood on Friday, President Obama condemned lawmakers who are restricting access to abortion and contraception and pledged to fight with women's health advocates "every step of the way," the New York Times' "The Caucus" reports.

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IN THE COURTS

This section provides a brief overview of significant cases impacting reproductive rights and health related to Abortion Bans.

McCormack v. Hiedeman
Challenge to Idaho 1972 criminal abortion restriction and 20-week ban by woman who was prosecuted under the law for self-inducing an abortion.

Edwards v. Beck
Challenge to Arkansas law that bans abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected with an abdominal ultrasound, generally around 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Paul A. Isaacson, M.D v. Tom Horne
Challenge to an unconstitutional Arizona law that prohibits abortion after 20 weeks following the woman's last menstrual period.

Lathrop v. Deal
Challenge under the Georgia state constitution to a Georgia law that would prohibit abortion after 20 weeks gestation.

AT-A-GLANCE

Issues

State by State

State by state

ABOUT REPRO WATCH

Repro Health Watch — an exciting new edition of the Women’s Health Policy Report — compiles and distributes media coverage of proposed and enacted state laws and ballot initiatives affecting women's access to comprehensive reproductive health care, as well as litigation in response to those provisions.



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