Abortion:<br
In the News

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.

Featured Blogs
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
"State Policy Trends 2013: Abortion Bans Move to the Forefront" (Elizabeth Nash/Rachel Benson Gold, RH Reality Check, 4/12) and "Federal Court Blocks Mississippi Admitting Privileges Law" (Jessica Mason Pieklo, RH Reality Check, 4/15).

Opinion Piece Explores Impact of Family Planning Funding Cuts in Texas
Monday, April 8, 2013
Last week, the Texas House took an important step toward restoring 2011 budget cuts that "caused more than 55 family planning clinics across the state to close and left remaining providers with less funding and more patients in need of care," Joseph Potter -- a professor at the University of Texas-Austin -- writes in an opinion piece in the Austin Statesman.

Ind. House Panel Advances Medication Abortion Restrictions After Omitting Mandatory Ultrasound Provision
Friday, March 29, 2013
The Indiana House Public Policy Committee on Wednesday voted 8-5 to advance a bill (SB 371) that would tighten restrictions on clinics that provide medication abortions, the Indianapolis Star reports.

Okla. Attorney General Asks U.S. Supreme Court To Reinstate Antiabortion Law
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt (R) on Friday filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling that struck down a state law (HB 2780) requiring women seeking an abortion to view an ultrasound image and hear a description of the fetus, AP/KSWO reports.

Featured Blogs
Friday, March 22, 2013
"Coercion, Not Consent" (John Culhane/Gayle Matthews, Huffington Post blogs, 3/20).

Tenn. Lawmakers Drop Ultrasound Bill, Focus on Ballot Measure Instead
Friday, March 8, 2013
Tennessee Sen. Jim Tracy (R) and Rep. Rick Womick (R) announced on Wednesday that they will no longer pursue legislation (HB 984, SB 632) that would require abortion providers to perform an ultrasound and describe the image to the woman before an abortion, the AP/ Chattanooga Times Free Press reports.

Texas Lawmaker Plans Bill To Overturn Pre-Abortion Waiting Period Law in Light of New Research
Thursday, March 7, 2013
A 2011 Texas law mandating a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion is emotionally harmful to some women, but it has not led women seeking abortions to change their minds about wanting the procedure, according to a study presented on Wednesday by a lawmaker seeking to overturn the restrictions, the AP/San Antonio Express-News reports.

Ind. Senate Approves New Restrictions on Clinics That Provide Medication Abortion
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The Indiana Senate on Tuesday voted 33-16 to approve a bill (SB 371) that would tighten restrictions on clinics that provide medication abortion and require physicians to perform ultrasounds on women before prescribing them the drugs, the AP/U-T San Diego reports.

Ind. Senate Panel Advances Bill Restricting Medication Abortion Providers
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Indiana Senate Health Committee on Wednesday voted 7-5 to pass a bill (SB 371) that would tighten restrictions on clinics that provide medication abortion, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Ky. Senate Approves Two Antiabortion Bills
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The Kentucky Senate on Friday voted 31-4 to approve two bills that would require new steps before a woman could have an abortion, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.

Mich. GOP Leaders Reject Transvaginal Ultrasound Bill; Sponsor Considers Amendments
Monday, February 11, 2013
Michigan House Speaker Jase Bolger (R) and Gov. Rick Snyder (R) on Wednesday said they are not interested in passing legislation that would require a woman seeking an abortion to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, TPMDC reports.

Mich. Bill Would Require Transvaginal Ultrasound in Many Cases
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Michigan lawmakers have introduced a bill (HB 4187) that would require women to receive an ultrasound at least two hours before obtaining an abortion, Salon reports. State Rep. Joel Johnson (R) sponsored the bill, which has 22 co-sponsors.

Wyo. Senate Rejects Pre-Abortion Requirements
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The Wyoming Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday voted 4-1 to reject a bill (SF 88) that would have required doctors and women to complete several steps, including a waiting period, before an abortion could be performed, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports.

Ark. Senate Passes Bill Requiring Transvaginal Ultrasound
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Arkansas Senate on Thursday approved a bill (SB 134) that would prohibit abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detectable via a transvaginal ultrasound, which could be as early as five weeks, Reuters reports.

Va. Senate Panel Kills Last Attempt To Reverse Ultrasound Law; AG Cuccinelli Backed Measure
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The Virginia Senate Committee on Education and Health on Monday rejected the last remaining bill (SB 1332) that would have reversed a state law (HB 462) requiring women to obtain an ultrasound before an abortion, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Interview Reflects on 40th Anniversary of Roe Decision
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Terry Gross interviewed Carolyn Jones, a journalist who wrote in the Texas Observer about her experience obtaining an abortion in Texas two weeks after the state's ultrasound law took effect, NPR's "Fresh Air" reports.

Va. Republicans Block Effort To Repeal Ultrasound Law
Friday, January 18, 2013
The Virginia Senate Committee on Education and Health on Thursday rejected two measures that would have repealed a state law (HB 462) requiring women to obtain an ultrasound before an abortion, the Washington Post reports.

Va. Lawmakers Reportedly Consider 'Grand Bargain' on Abortion Legislation
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Virginia legislative leaders have met behind closed doors to discuss a "grand bargain" on abortion-related legislation, an anonymous Democratic aide told the Huffington Post.

Featured Blogs
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
"Virginia Legislators Move to Offense To Win Back Reproductive Rights" (Robin Marty, RH Reality Check, 1/13)

Forty Years After Roe v. Wade, Women Still Caught in 'Political Fight,' New York Times Columnist Writes
Thursday, January 10, 2013
In the 40 years since the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Roe v. Wade, "women seeking abortions have been put through a lot of unnecessary trauma" by laws that force them to travel far distances to obtain the procedure and comply with requirements like mandatory ultrasounds and waiting periods, New York Times columnist Gail Collins writes.

Wis. Lawmakers, Antiabortion Groups Plan New Abortion Restrictions
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
A new session of the Wisconsin Legislature began on Monday, and lawmakers and antiabortion-rights groups are planning measures to further restrict abortion access in the state, WUWM reports.

Okla. Court's Rejection of Antiabortion Laws Should 'Be a Message to Lawmakers,' Editorial State
Friday, December 7, 2012
The Oklahoma Supreme Court's recent rejection of two state antiabortion laws should "be a message to lawmakers to give up on this line of legislation," a Tulsa World editorial states.

Okla. Supreme Court Rejects Ultrasound, Medication Abortion Laws
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld rulings rejecting two state laws that required women seeking an abortion to view an ultrasound image and restrict the use of medication abortion drugs, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Wis. Antiabortion Group Hopes To Use GOP Majority To Bolster Abortion Regulations
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Wisconsin's largest antiabortion-rights group, Wisconsin Right to Life, hopes to capitalize on Republican control of the Legislature and governorship to push through a number of abortion restrictions in the next legislative session, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Featured Blogs
Friday, November 2, 2012
"Texas Will Continue Funding to Planned Parenthood, For Now" (Andrea Grimes, RH Reality Check, 10/31) and "Heartbeat: My Involuntary Miscarriage and 'Voluntary Abortion' in Ohio" (Tamara Mann, Huffington Post blogs, 11/1).

Family Physicians Group Decries 'Legislative Interference' in Physician-Patient Relationship
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The American Academy of Family Physicians at a meeting last week passed resolutions supporting physician-patient confidentiality and the right of doctors to follow their consciences, MedPage Today reports.

Salon Examines Everyday Impact of Abortion Laws on Doctors, Patients
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Although political battles over abortion frequently make headlines, the details of how abortion restrictions affect the lives of women and medical personnel day to day "tends to stay hidden inside clinic walls," Salon reports.

State Laws Hinder Access to Abortion Information, Limit Women's Options, Experts Say
Monday, October 22, 2012
Although abortion is legal in the U.S., state laws are making it increasingly difficult for women to obtain abortions or even to get information about the procedure, the AP/Washington Post reports.

Featured Blogs
Friday, October 19, 2012
"No 'Personhood' Amendments Will Appear on Any Ballot This Election Day" (Erin Gloria Ryan, Jezebel, 10/16) and "The Woman who Dared To Show us a Transvaginal Probe" (Steve Williams, Care2, 10/16).

Abortion Access Reverting to Pre-Roe 'Patchwork' in States, Advocates Warn
Friday, September 28, 2012
A "rash" of state-level abortion restrictions in recent years has made accessing abortion incredibly difficult for many women, even as the procedure remains legal, women's health experts say, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

Future of Alaska Abortion Legislation Could Hinge on State Senate Races
Friday, September 21, 2012
A conservative push to gain a majority in the Alaska Senate could have repercussions for abortion-related legislation in the state, the Alaska Dispatch reports.

Mother Jones Examines Americans United for Life's Role in State Antiabortion Legislation
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
The antiabortion-rights group Americans United for Life is "chipping away at abortion access at an ever-faster pace," claiming credit for 24 abortion restrictions passed nationwide last year, Kate Sheppard writes in Mother Jones.

Featured Blogs
Friday, August 17, 2012
"Virginia Forced Ultrasound Law Interferes With Health Services, Clinic Director Says" (Reilly Moore, RH Reality Check, 8/16) and "Attacks on Planned Parenthood in Texas Forced at Least 50 Unaffiliated Health Clinics To Close" (Tara Culp-Ressler, ThinkProgress, 8/16).

La. Abortion Laws Take Effect
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Two laws took effect on Aug. 1 that place further restrictions on abortion care in Louisiana, WRKF reports

Va. Ultrasound Law Takes Effect
Thursday, July 5, 2012
A controversial Virginia law requiring women to receive an ultrasound before an abortion went into effect on Sunday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

Okla. Appeals Ruling That Struck Down State Ultrasound Law
Friday, June 22, 2012
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt (R) on Thursday appealed a ruling against a state law that requires doctors to show women ultrasounds of their fetuses and describe the images before providing abortion care, The Oklahoman reports.

La. Gov. Jindal Signs Longer Waiting Period, Fetal Heartbeat Bills Into Law
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) on Thursday signed into law two bills that place further restrictions on abortion care in the state, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

La. Committees Advance Abortion Restrictions, Ask Congress To Defund Planned Parenthood
Friday, May 18, 2012
Committees in the Louisiana Senate and House on Wednesday approved various bills that would increase restrictions on abortion care and oppose funding of Planned Parenthood, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports.

Okla. Gov. Fallin Signs Bill Allowing Lawsuits Against Abortion Providers
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) on Tuesday signed into law a bill (HB 2561) permitting lawsuits against abortion providers -- including any doctor who prescribes medication abortion drugs -- who do not follow the state's voluntary and informed consent laws, The Oklahoman reports.

Okla. House Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Against Abortion Providers, Sends to Gov. Fallin
Friday, May 4, 2012
The Oklahoma House on Wednesday voted 89-0 to approve a bill (HB 2561) that would allow women to file lawsuits against abortion providers and anyone who prescribes abortion-inducing drugs if they violate state abortion law, the AP/Wichita Falls Times Record News reports.

Okla. Gov. Fallin Signs Fetal Heartbeat Bill
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) on Friday signed into law a bill (SB 1274) that will require physicians to offer women a chance to listen to a fetal heartbeat prior to an abortion, KTUL reports.

Number of State Antiabortion Bills Down Slightly From This Time Last Year, Guttmacher Reports
Monday, April 16, 2012
At least 75 bills restricting abortion rights have passed at least one state legislative chamber in the first three months of 2012, according to a report released Friday by the Guttmacher Institute, the Washington Times reports.

Ariz. Gov. Brewer Signs Sweeping Antiabortion Bill That Includes 20-Week Ban, Medication Abortion Restrictions
Friday, April 13, 2012
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) on Thursday signed into law a bill (HB 2036) that includes several abortion restrictions, including a ban on the procedure after 20 weeks of gestation in nearly all cases and other limits on abortion, Reuters reports.

R.I. House Committee Holds Hearing on Ultrasound Bill
Friday, April 13, 2012
The Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday held a hearing on a bill (HB 7205) that would require a woman seeking an abortion to first receive an ultrasound, the AP/Boston Globe reports.

Miss. House Adds 'Heartbeat' Amendment to Homicide Bill
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The Mississippi House on Tuesday voted 76-39 to revive legislation that would ban abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detectable, the AP/10TV reports.

Ariz. 20-Week Abortion Ban Goes To Gov. Brewer
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Arizona House on Tuesday voted 37-22 to approve a bill (HB 2036) that would ban abortion after 20 weeks of gestation in nearly all cases, the AP/U-T San Diego reports.

Pa. Ultrasound Bill Pulled From Legislative Calendar
Monday, April 9, 2012
A Pennsylvania bill (HB 1077) that would require a woman seeking abortion care to first undergo an ultrasound has been pulled from the Legislature's voting calendar, the Centre Daily News reports.

Okla. Attorney General To Appeal Ruling Striking Down Ultrasound Law
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt (R) plans to appeal a judge's ruling last week that struck down a state law requiring a woman seeking abortion care to first view an ultrasound image of the fetus and listen to a detailed description of it, KJRH reports.

Okla. Judge Strikes Down State Law Requiring Ultrasound, Description of Image Before Abortion
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Oklahoma County District Judge Brian Dixon on Wednesday struck down a state law that would have required a woman seeking abortion care to first view an ultrasound image of the fetus and listen to a detailed description of the image, CNN reports.

Idaho Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Bill Appears Finished for This Year
Thursday, March 29, 2012
On Tuesday, the sponsor of an Idaho bill (SB 1387) that would mandate ultrasounds before abortions said he would not schedule a committee hearing on the measure, meaning it is likely finished for this year, the AP/Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

Va. Senate Approves Budget Without Plan To Pay for Pre-Abortion Ultrasounds
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The Virginia Senate on Monday rejected a budget amendment that would have required the state or private insurers to pay for ultrasounds that a new state law will mandate before abortion care, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

Ky. House Panel Rejects Several Antiabortion Bills
Monday, March 26, 2012
The Kentucky House Health and Welfare Committee on Thursday rejected several antiabortion-rights bills, including a measure (SB 103) that would have required a woman to obtain an ultrasound before an abortion, the AP/Appleton Post Crescent reports.

Idaho House Republicans Uncertain About Prospects for Ultrasound Bill
Friday, March 23, 2012
After cancelling a committee hearing on a bill (SB 1387) that would mandate ultrasounds before abortion care, Idaho House Republicans said they are unsure if the measure will advance during the current legislative session, the AP/Idaho Statesman reports.

Idaho Senate Passes Ultrasound Bill
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The Idaho Senate on Monday voted 23-12 to approve a bill (SB 1387) that would require a woman to receive an ultrasound before an abortion, Reuters reports.

Va. Democrats Offer Proposal To Cover Cost of State-Mandated Ultrasound Before Abortion Care
Monday, March 19, 2012
Virginia Senate Democratic leaders are pushing Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) to support a budget change so that women seeking abortion care do not have to pay out-of-pocket for a mandatory ultrasound under a new state law (HB 462), the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

Idaho Senate Committee Advances Bill Mandating Pre-Abortion Ultrasound
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee last week approved a bill that would require a woman seeking abortion care to first receive an ultrasound, the Twin Falls Times-News reports.

Va. Gov. McDonnell Signs Controversial Ultrasound Bill
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) on Wednesday signed a bill (HB 462) that will require women seeking abortion to first receive an external ultrasound, the Washington Post's "Virginia Politics" reports.

State Abortion Restrictions Have Little Impact on Demand for Procedure
Monday, March 5, 2012
While state restrictions on access to abortion care, such as requiring an ultrasound or a waiting period, are "burdensome and demeaning," abortion-rights supporters say the obstacles "rarely dissuade women who want the procedure," the AP/Longview News-Journal reports.

Pa. House Postpones Upcoming Vote on Ultrasound Bill
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R) has postponed a vote on a bill (HB 1077) that would require a woman seeking abortion care to first undergo an ultrasound, his spokesperson said Wednesday evening, the Scranton Times-Tribune reports.

Ala. Lawmaker To Amend Ultrasound Bill To Allow Option of External Procedure
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Alabama Sen. Clay Scofield (R) on Sunday announced he would rewrite a bill (SB 12) so that women seeking abortion care could choose between a mandatory vaginal or abdominal ultrasound, the Montgomery Advertiser reports.

Idaho Lawmaker Removes Reference to Vaginal Ultrasounds From Bill
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Idaho Senate Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder (R) said he has removed a reference to vaginal ultrasounds from an antiabortion-rights bill because "it was confusing," the Spokane Spokesman-Review reports

Va. Debate Reflects Larger Fight Over Ultrasound Laws
Monday, February 27, 2012
Virginia's controversial bill (HB 462) that would require a woman seeking abortion care to first receive an ultrasound is part of a larger push by abortion-rights opponents, who have pushed for similar legislation in other states since 2005, the New York Times reports.

Miss. Lawmakers Plan 'Personhood' Measure, Other Antiabortion Bills
Monday, February 27, 2012
Mississippi lawmakers plan to introduce multiple bills to restrict abortion rights this year, including an attempt to pass legislation similar to a "personhood" measure that voters rejected last year, the AP/Columbus Republic reports.

Va. Senate Defeats 'Personhood' Bill; Senate Comm. Approves Modified Ultrasound Bill
Friday, February 24, 2012
e Virginia Senate on Thursday sent a bill (HB 1) that would define fertilized eggs as people back to committee, ending the measure's chances for this session, Politico reports.

Va. House Approves Amended Version of Ultrasound Bill After Gov. Endorses Compromise
Thursday, February 23, 2012
After Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) withdrew support for a bill (HB 462) that would require women seeking abortion care to first receive an ultrasound, members of the House of Delegates on Wednesday voted to approve an amended version, the AP/Washington Post reports.

Ill. House Agriculture Committee Passes Two Bills Restricting Abortion Access
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Illinois House Agriculture & Conservation Committee on Tuesday voted to approve two abortion measures, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Va. Lawmakers Could Approve Ultrasound Bill This Week; Measure Sparks Protests at Capitol
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
he Virginia House of Delegates as early as Tuesday could give final approval to a measure (HB 462) that would require a woman seeking abortion care to first receive an ultrasound and have the opportunity to view the image, the New York Times reports.

Ky. Senate Passes Bill Requiring Women To Have Ultrasound Before Receiving Abortion Care
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Kentucky Senate on Tuesday voted 32-4 to pass a bill (SB 103) that would require women to obtain an ultrasound before receiving abortion care, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.

Texas Moves To Implement Ultrasound Law After Judge Defers to Appeals Court's Decision
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks on Monday said he is bound by an appeals court's decision ordering enforcement of a Texas law that requires doctors to perform an ultrasound, describe the fetus and give the woman the option of hearing the fetal heartbeat before providing an abortion, Reuters reports.

Va. Senate Approves Bill Requiring Ultrasounds Before Abortion Care
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Virginia Senate on Wednesday voted 21-18 to approve a bill (SB 484) that would require women to obtain ultrasounds before they can receive abortion care.

Va. Senate Postpones Vote on Ultrasound Bill To Consider Amendments
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
On Tuesday, the Republican sponsor of a Virginia bill (SB 484) requiring ultrasounds before abortion care agreed to postpone a vote while a Democratic senator prepares an amendment that would make the ultrasound optional, the Virginian-Pilot reports.

Texas Ultrasound Law Creates Hurdles for Abortion Clinics, Patients
Monday, January 30, 2012
A new Texas law requiring an ultrasound and a 24-hour waiting period before abortion care has created a "bureaucratic nightmare" for clinics and obstacles for their patients, the Texas Tribune/New York Times reports.

Ky. Pre-Abortion Ultrasound, Counseling Bills Advance to Full Senate
Monday, January 30, 2012
A Kentucky Senate Committee on Thursday approved two bills that would require ultrasounds and in-person counseling before abortion care, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.

Center for Reproductive Rights Requests New Hearing on Texas Ultrasound Law
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Center for Reproductive Rights has requested a new hearing before the full 5th Circuit Court of Appeals over the legality of a Texas antiabortion-rights law, Politico Pro reports.

Appeals Court Panel Clears Immediate Enforcement of Texas Ultrasound Law
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
On Friday, an appeals court panel approved Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's (R) request to permit immediate enforcement of a state law requiring doctors to perform an ultrasound, describe the fetus and give the woman the option to hear the fetal heartbeat before providing abortion care, the Texas Tribune reports.

Multiple Ultrasound Bills Offered in Va. General Assembly
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Four bills that would require ultrasounds before a woman can obtain an abortion have been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly, Capital News Service/Suffolk News Herald reports.

Enforcement of Texas Ultrasound Law in Limbo After Appeals Court Ruling
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Although a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that Texas may begin enforcing a new antiabortion-rights law, it remains unclear when the state will do so or how the law's opponents will react, the AP/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports.

Appeals Court Panel Lifts Injunction Against Texas Ultrasound Law
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
On Tuesday, a three-judge panel from a federal appeals court lifted a lower court's injunction against a Texas law requiring doctors to perform an ultrasound, provide the woman with the option to hear the fetal heartbeat and describe the fetus before providing abortion care, the AP/Washington Times reports.

U.S. Appeals Court Hears Arguments Over Texas Ultrasound Law
Friday, January 6, 2012
A three-judge panel from a federal appeals court heard arguments on Wednesday over a Texas law requiring doctors to perform an ultrasound and describe the fetus before an abortion, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports.

Judge Blocks Ultrasound Provision of N.C. Abortion Law
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles on Tuesday temporarily blocked part of a new North Carolina law (HB 854) that requires abortion providers to conduct ultrasounds and describe the images to women before providing abortion services, Reuters reports.

Groups Challenge Constitutionality of N.C. Abortion Law
Friday, September 30, 2011
A coalition of five groups -- the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation, Planned Parenthood Health Systems, Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina and the Center for Reproductive Rights -- on Thursday filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of a North Carolina law that requires abortion providers to comply with specific requirements before a woman can have an abortion, ABC11-WTVD reports.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Parts of Texas Ultrasound Law
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
A federal judge on Aug. 30 issued a preliminary injunction blocking sections of a new Texas law that requires women seeking abortion care to have an ultrasound and hear a detailed description of the fetus at least 24 hours before the abortion procedure, the Austin American-Statesman reports.

N.C. Senate Votes To Override Veto on Ultrasound Bill, Making Restrictions Law
Friday, July 29, 2011
The North Carolina Senate on Thursday voted 29-19 to override Gov. Beverly Perdue's (D) veto of a measure (HB 854) that would require women to obtain an ultrasound and undergo mandatory counseling at least 24 hours prior to receiving abortion care, effectively making the legislation law, AP/WRAL reports.

N.C. House Votes To Override Governor's Veto of Ultrasound Bill
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The North Carolina House on Tuesday voted 72-47 to override Gov. Beverly Perdue's (D) veto of a bill (HB 854) that would require women to obtain an ultrasound and undergo mandatory counseling at least 24 hours prior to receiving abortion care, the AP/Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Preliminary Injunction Sought Against Texas Ultrasound Law
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Center for Reproductive Rights on Thursday filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against a Texas law that requires a woman seeking abortion care to have an ultrasound and hear a detailed description of the fetus at least 24 hours before the abortion procedure, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Planned Parenthood Takes Up Multiple Legal Challenges Nationwide
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Planned Parenthood is fighting an "increasingly aggressive campaign" against legislation in several states that restricts abortion rights or cuts off funding to the organization, Politico reports.

Wyo. Senate Rejects Ultrasound Bill
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Wyoming Senate on Friday voted 15-14 to reject a House-approved bill (HB 251) that would have required health care providers in the state to inform a woman that she could view an ultrasound image of her fetus before undergoing an abortion, the Casper Star-Tribune reports.

Wyo. House Approves Bill Requiring Ultrasound Information Before Abortion
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Wyoming House on Wednesday granted final approval to a bill (HB 251) that would require health care providers in the state to inform a woman seeking an abortion that she could view an ultrasound image of her fetus before undergoing an abortion, the AP/Washington Examiner reports.