repro
  WATCH

News This Week: 3/20 - 3/26

On Wednesday, a Florida state trial court indicated that it will dismiss a challenge to a law that forces patients to delay their abortions for at least 24 hours after meeting with a physician. The case was brought by the Center and partners in 2015.

• The law requires pregnant people to visit a clinic twice, increasing the cost of travel, time taken off work, and hours of childcare required to access abortion.
• Earlier this month, the FL state legislature sent a bill banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for signature.

On Wednesday, Idaho’s Gov. Brad Little signed into law a bill that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy by allowing a patient’s extended family to sue a physician for a minimum of $20,000 if they provide abortion care after that point.

• In response to the bill, the Biden administration stated that it will “continue to stand with women and support their right to make their own health care decisions, a constitutional right that Roe v. Wade affirmed nearly five decades ago.” The statement also calls on Congress to send a bill to President Biden’s desk to “shut down these radical steps.”
• The Women’s Health Protection Act, which is supported by the majority of voters in the U.S. but failed to pass the Senate last month, would protect the right to abortion in federal law if passed.

Several other states have moved to restrict abortion this week, as well.

• South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed a law that would require people seeking a medication abortion to make three separate visits to a clinic. The legislation would make South Dakota one of the most difficult states in the country to access abortion pills. Most of the legislation is temporarily blocked from taking effect while litigation in federal court against the bill continues.
• Oklahoma’s House passed a near-total ban on abortion in the state. House Bill 4327 would prohibit physicians from providing abortion care at any point in pregnancy unless its necessary to save a patient’s life.
• West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed a ban on abortion based on certain reasons for seeking care, such as the presence or presumed presence of a fetal condition. The bill also requires physicians to submit a report on each abortion performed and whether the presence or presumed presence of a fetal condition was detected.

Coming Up

Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17)

• Last year, the Biden administration became the first presidential administration to recognize Black Maternal Health Week, which is focused on building a world where Black people may birth and live with dignity. 

Did You Know?

This month, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published a guide for journalists who write about abortion and reproductive health care. The guide is meant to “help inform language choice that is medically appropriate, clinically accurate, and without bias.”