A number of state legislatures and organizations put barriers between women and abortion care by directly interfering with a woman's medical care. Waiting period requirements make abortion care more difficult to get, especially for rural and low-income women. They require that a woman wait a specified amount of time before obtaining an abortion after her initial consultation. These laws insult women by presuming that they have not considered their decision carefully, and they impose real obstacles on getting abortion care. They may require two trips to the clinic, which may be hundreds of miles away, and each trip may require getting child care, transportation, and time off of work. Most waiting periods are 24 hours, but some are as long as 72 hours.
|
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.H. House Rejects Bill Requiring Waiting Period, Signed Consent Before Abortions
Friday, March 15, 2013
The New Hampshire House on Wednesday rejected a bill (HB 483) that would have required women to wait 24 hours before obtaining an abortion, the AP/Boston Globe reports.
|
|
S.D. Gov. Signs Bill To Lengthen Waiting Period Requirement
Monday, March 11, 2013
South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) on Friday signed into law a bill that excludes weekends and holidays from the state's 72-hour waiting period before abortions, which would extend the wait to six days for a woman who seeks an abortion the Friday before a three-day weekend, Reuters reports.
|
|
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.
|
|
S.D. Senate Advances Bill To Extend 72-Hour Waiting Period Provision
Friday, March 1, 2013
The South Dakota Senate on Thursday voted 24-9 to approve a measure under which weekends and holidays would not count toward a mandatory three-day waiting period for women seeking abortions in the state, Reuters reports.
|
|
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.
|
|
Wyo. Abortion Bills Fixate on Fetal Heartbeat, Pre-Abortion Requirements
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Two proposed measures before the Wyoming Legislature emphasize the fetus' heartbeat in attempting to restrict abortion, the Casper Star-Tribune reports.
|
|
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.
|
|
Mich. Gov. Snyder Signs Sweeping Antiabortion Bill
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) on Dec. 28 signed a broad measure (HB 5711) that imposes several new restrictions on abortion rights, Reuters reports.
|
|
Planned Parenthood Drops Appeal of S.D. 72-Hour Waiting Period Provision
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota on Dec. 21 dropped its appeal of a South Dakota provision that requires a woman to wait 72 hours before obtaining an abortion, the AP/Washington Post reports.
|
|
Mich. House Sends Sweeping Antiabortion Bill to Gov. Snyder
Friday, December 14, 2012
The Michigan House on Thursday approved legislation (HB 5711) that would impose several new restrictions on abortion, although lawmakers removed one controversial provision relating to the disposal of fetal remains, the Detroit Free Press reports.
|
|
Mich. Senate Approves Bills on Patient 'Risk Assessments,' Abortion Clinic Inspections
Thursday, December 13, 2012
The Michigan Senate on Wednesday voted 27-10 to approve broad legislation (HB 5711) that would place several new restrictions on abortion providers, MLive 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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
Judge Allows Some Parts of S.D. Abortion Law To Take Effect
Thursday, June 28, 2012
A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that South Dakota may begin requiring physicians to ask women various screening questions before an abortion, but other provisions in the same law will remain blocked until she rules on a lawsuit challenging the statute, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports.
|
|
N.H. Senate Rejects Waiting Period Bill
Friday, May 25, 2012
The New Hampshire Senate on Wednesday rejected for the second time a bill (HB 1659) that would require women to wait 24 hours before obtaining abortion care, the AP/Foster's Daily Democrat 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.
|
|
N.H. House Revives 24-Hour Waiting Period Measure
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The New Hampshire House on Tuesday voted to revive a measure (HB 1659) that would require women to wait 24 hours before obtaining abortion care, the AP/ Boston Globe reports.
|
|
Utah Becomes First State To Implement 72-Hour Waiting Period Before Abortion Care
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
On Tuesday, a Utah law (HB 461) took effect that requires women seeking abortion care to wait 72 hours before having the procedure, giving the state the longest waiting period in the country, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
|
|
N.H. Senate Votes on Series of Bills Targeting Women's Health
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The New Hampshire Senate on Wednesday debated a series of abortion- and reproductive health-related measures, rejecting several and advancing two, the Concord Monitor 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.
|
|
Utah Governor Signs Bill Requiring 72-Hour Waiting Period Before Abortion
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) on Tuesday signed into law a bill (HB 461) that will extend the waiting period for women seeking abortion care to 72 hours, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
|
|
N.H. House Approves Waiting Period, Counseling Requirements Before Abortion Care
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The New Hampshire House on Wednesday approved a bill (HB 1659) that would require a woman seeking abortion care to first wait 24 hours, during which time she would have to meet with a doctor to review information and materials about the procedure, the Huffington Post reports.
|
|
Utah House Approves 72-Hour Waiting Period Before Abortion Care
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Utah House on Monday voted 59-11 to approve an amended version of a bill (HB 461) that would require women seeking abortion care to wait 72 hours before the procedure, the Deseret News reports.
|
|
Fla. Senate Rejects Bill To Mandate Waiting Period, Restrictions on Abortion Providers
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Florida Senate on Monday blocked debate on a bill (SB 290) that would have mandated a 24-hour waiting period before abortion care and imposed new regulations on abortion providers, the Miami Herald reports (Sanders/Klas, Miami Herald, 3/5).
|
|
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.
|
|
S.D. Senate Approves Bill To Modify Abortion Counseling, Waiting Period Law
Monday, February 27, 2012
The South Dakota Senate on Thursday voted 26-7 to pass a bill (HB 1254) that would alter a 2011 law that mandates a 72-hour waiting period and counseling at a crisis pregnancy center before abortion care, the AP/NECN reports.
|
|
Wis. Senate Passes Bill Tightening Voluntary Consent Requirements, Banning Telemedicine for Abortion Care
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Wisconsin Senate on Wednesday voted 17-15 to pass a bill that would place new restrictions on abortion care, the AP/Superior Telegram reports.
|
|
Utah Considers 72-Hour Waiting Period for Abortion Care
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Utah Rep. Steve Eliason (R) has proposed a bill (HB 461) that would require women to wait 72 hours before receiving abortion care, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
|
|
S.D. Committee Proposes Changes to CPC Counseling Requirement
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The South Dakota House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted 10-2 to approve a bill (HB 1254) that would alter a state law requiring women to obtain counseling at crisis pregnancy centers and wait 72 hours before receiving abortion care, the AP/Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports.
|
|
Fla. House Panel Advances Bills To Restrict Abortion Access
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Florida House subcommittee on Tuesday approved three antiabortion-rights measures, including provisions that would require a 24-waiting period before the procedure, prohibit abortion for reasons related to sex or race and ban abortion care after 20 weeks of gestation, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
|
|
Federal Judge Allows Two Crisis Pregnancy Centers To Enter Case Against S.D. Abortion Law
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
U.S. District Chief Judge Karen Schreier has allowed two crisis pregnancy centers to intervene in a court case involving a South Dakota law that requires women seeking an abortion to wait 72 hours before the procedure, the Aberdeen News 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.
|
|
Ariz. Appeals Court Rules That 2009 Abortion Restrictions Do Not Cause Undue Burden
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Arizona Court of Appeals on Thursday ruled that key parts of a 2009 state law restricting abortion services are constitutional and do not place an undue burden on women, the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune 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.
|
|
La. Gov. Signs Bill Requiring Abortion Clinic Signs, Website on Alternatives
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) on Wednesday signed a bill (HB 636) into law that requires the state to make information about abortion and pregnancy options available online and mandates that clinics post signs stating, among other things, that it is illegal to force a woman to have an abortion, the New Orleans Times-Picayune 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.
|
|
S.D. 72-Hour Waiting Period Law Temporarily Blocked
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
U.S. District Chief Judge Karen Schreier on Thursday granted a preliminary injunction against a South Dakota law that would require women to obtain counseling at crisis pregnancy centers and wait 72 hours before receiving abortion care, the AP/Washington Post reports.
|
|
Maine House Rejects Four Antiabortion-Rights Bills
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Maine House on Tuesday rejected four bills aiming to restrict abortion access, including measures related to waiting periods, pre-abortion counseling, parental consent and crimes against pregnant women, the AP/Boston Globe reports.
|
|
Maine House Panel Considers Three Abortion-Related Bills
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Maine House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday held hearings on three antiabortion-rights bills under consideration by the state's first Republican-led Legislature in decades, the AP/Washington Examiner reports.
|
