Abortion Access Under Attack in 2013

During the 2013 state legislative sessions more than 300 abortion restrictions were introduced by lawmakers across the country– including some of the most extreme we’ve seen in years.  This map shows the states that saw major threats to, and new laws, restricting abortion access.

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Alaska legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

In the 2013 session, the ACLU and our allies defeated politicians' attempt to withhold assistance funds from a qualified woman seeking abortion care.

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

Alabama legislature enacted major restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Alabama passed a law that places onerous and medically unnecessary restrictions on doctors and clinics that provide abortion care, including requiring doctors performing abortions obtain special privileges at local hospitals that are likely to refuse to grant such privileges. This law could force most of the state's abortion clinics to close. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Alabama Foundation, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America have filed a lawsuit to prevent this law from taking effect. Advocates in Alabama successfully defeated several bills that would have further restricted access to reproductive health care, including an attempt to restrict access to comprehensive health insurance coverage that includes contraception and abortion care.

This law has the potential to impact 959,003 women of childbearing age in the state of Alabama.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Arkansas legislature passed major restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Arkansas enacted several restrictions on abortion access, including:



Advocates in Arkansas successfully defeated several bills that would have further restricted access to reproductive health care, including an attempt to block Planned Parenthood and other family planning providers from receiving state funds.

This law has the potential to impact 572,675 women of childbearing age in the state of Arkansas.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Arizona legislature considered proposals that restrict abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

In Arizona, politicians considered a proposal to block doctors from providing a safe and legal abortion to a woman who uses Medicaid coverage for health services, even if she is not using Medicaid to pay for her abortion care.

Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

Florida legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

Several restrictions on abortion access were defeated, including a bill that would have prohibited abortion based on the reasons a woman considered having one. The bill would have had doctors police their patients and refuse to provide abortions if they thought one was sought because of race or sex of the fetus. Recognizing the bill as a discriminatory political play meant to interfere in a woman's private health care decisions, several legislators walked out of a legislative hearing and refused to advance the bill.

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

Georgia legislature threatened to pass a major restriction on abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

Politicians in Georgia considered several bills that would have restricted abortion access, including one that would have prevented a woman employed by the state from accessing comprehensive health insurance coverage that includes abortion care.

A woman's access to health care shouldn't rely on where she works or the kind of care she needs. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

Iowa legislature threatened to withhold assistance funds from a qualified woman seeking abortion care

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

Iowa legislators threatened to block the ability of eligible women to use Medicaid coverage for abortion care.

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

Illinois legislature introduced proposals that restrict abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

Legislators in Illinois introduced several bills that would restrict access to reproductive rights, but none of them passed.

Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. They must think we're stupid.

Indiana legislature enacted major restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Indiana enacted a law that targets a single health center that provides a range of women's health services. The new law requires that the clinic either stop providing abortion care or make expensive and medically unnecessary structural changes. The ACLU, ACLU of Indiana, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America have challenged this bill in court.

Although this bill passed, advocates in Indiana successfully defeated several proposals that would have further restricted access to reproductive health care.

This law has the potential to impact 1,286,576 women of childbearing age in the state of Indiana.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Kansas legislature enacted major restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Politicians in Kansas enacted a sweeping anti-abortion bill that includes several restrictions on abortion access. For example, the bill aims to impose new taxes on a woman who obtains an abortion and the health center where she obtained it; prohibit someone from teaching sex ed if they work or volunteer at a family planning health center that provides abortions; and require doctors to provide information about a link between abortion and breast cancer -- a link widely rejected by medical experts.

This law has the potential to impact 557,854 women of childbearing age in the state of Kansas.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Kentucky legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

The ACLU, along with coalition partners, defeated an attempt to prevent women from accessing abortion care by requiring a woman seeking an abortion to make multiple unnecessary separate trips to a health center. Kentucky politicians have tried -- and failed -- to pass restrictions on access to reproductive health care for the past several years.

Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

Louisiana legislature enacted restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Louisiana passed a law designed to limit access to abortion care. As introduced, the bill would have prevented qualified doctors from performing abortions, but that part of the bill was amended before passage. The bill, as passed, includes language that attempts to restrict doctors' ability to perform non-surgical abortion.

This law has the potential to impact 934,760 women of childbearing age in the state of Louisiana.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Maine legislature threatened to restrict access to abortion

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

In Maine, the ACLU and its allies worked to defeat several attacks on reproductive freedom.

Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. They must think we're stupid.

Michigan legislature enacted major restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Michigan legislators enacted a proposal that restricts a woman’s access to comprehensive insurance coverage that includes abortion care.

Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

Minnesota legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

Politicians failed in their attempt to restrict a woman's access to comprehensive insurance coverage including abortion care. Advocates were also able to defeat a proposal that would have imposed medically unnecessary restrictions on health care clinics that provide abortion care.

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

Missouri legislature enacted restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

The Missouri legislature enacted a law intended to restrict a doctor's ability to provide a woman who needs an abortion with safe and legal non-surgical options. Legislators debated several other bills that would interfere with a woman's health care decisions, including a bill that would have allowed medical professionals and health care facilities to refuse to provide a range of reproductive health care to patients, including contraception.

This law has the potential to impact 1,172,699 women of childbearing age in the state of Missouri.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Mississippi legislature passed restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

The Mississippi legislature enacted a bill intended to restrict access to non-surgical abortion care. The ACLU and coalition partners defeated several other attempts to limit access to reproductive health care, including a bill that would have banned most abortions.

This law has the potential to impact 602,305 women of childbearing age in the state of Mississippi.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Montana legislature passed major restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Montana legislators enacted a new law that restricts teens' access to abortion care. We all want our teens to talk to us when faced with a big decision in their lives, and most do. But the most important thing is that adolescents can get the care they need to stay safe.

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. No law can ensure good family communication. They must think we're stupid.

North Carolina legislature considering restrictions on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

North Carolina legislature enacted restrictions on abortion access.

The North Carolina legislative session passed measures that would restrict access to reproductive health care, including sweeping anti-abortion measures that, among other things, could force clinics to close and restricts insurance coverage for abortion care in comprehensive plans offered in the new health exchanges. These provisions were amended onto an unrelated bill.

This law has the potential to impact 1,949,350 women of childbearing age in the state of North Carolina.*

Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.


*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

North Dakota passed a law banning most abortions

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

North Dakota enacted several restrictions on abortion access, including:

  • a ban on abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy;
  • a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy;
  • a ban on abortion based on a woman's reason; and
  • a law designed to shut down the one abortion clinic in the state by imposing medically unnecessary requirements on doctors who provide abortion care.
  • The legislature also sent a so-called ""personhood"" measure to the 2014 ballot, which could open the door to banning all abortion and in vitro fertilization.


This law has the potential to impact 135,420 women of childbearing age in the state of North Dakota.*

This is an extreme example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Nebraska legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

Nebraska legislators considered a far-reaching bill that would have allowed doctors and health care centers to refuse to help a woman seeking medical care, including when she needs an abortion because her health is endangered.

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. They must think we're stupid.

New Hampshire legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

New Hampshire legislators considered a bill that would have prohibited a woman from accessing abortion care unless she made two separate trips to the clinic, regardless of how far she would have to travel from home.

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

New Mexico legislature considered restrictions on reproductive health access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

The New Mexico legislature did not pass major restrictions to reproductive rights this year, but it did consider a proposal to make the felony crime of "tampering with evidence" to include "procuring or facilitating an abortion��_of a fetus that is the result of criminal sexual penetration or incest with the intent to destroy evidence of the crime." Under this bill a rape survivor could feel forced to choose between cooperating in the prosecution of her abuser and terminating an unwanted pregnancy that was forced upon her. The legislature considered several additional threats to reproductive rights this session, but extremists failed to pass them.

Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

Ohio legislature passed major restrictions on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Ohio legislature passed a bill that threatens reproductive health care in the state. The bill includes a provision that aims to shut down women's health centers if they provide abortion care by making it more difficult for clinic doctors to obtain written agreements from hospitals confirming hospitals' willingness to accept the doctor's patients in the rare event they need hospital care. This, despite (or because of) evidence that hospitals are subject to intense political pressure to refuse to provide such written confirmation. The ACLU and ACLU of Ohio have challenged this restriction in court.

This law has the potential to impact 2,212,336 women of childbearing age in the state of Ohio.*

Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Oklahoma legislature passed restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Oklahoma enacted a new law that restricts teens' access to abortion care, even when that teen can't go to their parent for help. The state also passed other restrictions on reproductive health care.

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances.

Pennsylvania legislature passed major restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Pennsylvania enacted a law that restricts health insurance coverage for abortion, preventing abortion coverage in part of the comprehensive plans offered in the new health exchanges.

This law has the potential to impact 2,425,630 women of childbearing age in the state of Pennsylvania.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Rhode Island legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

The Rhode Island legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access.

Legislators in Rhode Island considered several bills that would have interfered in a woman's private medical decisions.

Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

South Carolina legislature threatened to pass a major restriction on abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

South Carolina politicians introduced several proposals to restrict a woman's ability to make personal, private medical decisions, including a bill that intended to eliminate access to abortion care by placing overly burdensome and medically unnecessary requirements on doctors who provide abortion care.

South Dakota legislature requires the longest waiting period in the country before women can obtain an abortion

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

South Dakota enacted a law that extends the state's 72 hour waiting period between a woman's first trip to the clinic and her abortion. The new law will require some women to wait even longer than 72 hours, by excluding a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday from the mandatory waiting period.

This law has the potential to impact 155,019 women of childbearing age in the state of South Dakota.*

Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances, without being shamed and bullied for political reasons. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Tennessee legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

Tennessee politicians introduced a bill that sought to shame a woman seeking an abortion by attempting to force her to view an ultrasound or listen to a description of the image prior to an abortion, even if she refuses.

Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. They must think we're stupid.

Texas legislature passed restriction on abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Texas legislature passed major restriction on abortion access.

On July 18, 2013 Texas Gov. Rick Perry today signed into law a sweeping anti-abortion bill that could result in the closure of most women's health clinics that provide abortions in the state and block doctors from providing abortion care when needed. The bill imposes onerous and medically unnecessary structural requirements on abortion clinics and bans abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy -- the point in pregnancy when a woman might find out something has gone seriously wrong. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Center for Reproductive Rights have filed a lawsuit challenging this law.

This law has the potential to impact 5,476,662 women of childbearing age in the state of Texas.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Virginia legislature enacted major restriction to abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Virginia enacted a law that restricts health insurance coverage for abortion, preventing abortion coverage in part of the comprehensive plans offered in the new health exchanges.

This law has the potential to impact 1,670,773 women of childbearing age in the state of Virginia.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. They don't think we know that forcing health centers to comply with impossible-to-meet regulations is an attempt to outlaw abortion clinics. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

Wisconsin legislature is considering proposals that restrict abortion access

State legislature passed restriction on abortion access

Wisconsin legislature enacted proposals that restrict abortion access.

The Wisconsin legislature enacted a bill that could require a woman seeking an abortion undergo an ultrasound, force doctors to display and describe the ultrasound image to her, and force the doctors performing the abortion to have special hospital privileges that have proven impossible to get in other states. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America have filed a lawsuit to prevent this law from taking effect .

This law has the potential to impact 1,088,434 women of childbearing age in the state of Wisconsin.*

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

*Population estimates are for 2012 and are based on the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division’s most recent numbers.

West Virginia legislature considered restrictions on reproductive health access

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

Politicians in West Virginia tried, and failed, to pass restrictions on reproductive health care access, including a measure that would have prevented access to insurance coverage for abortion.

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

Wyoming legislature considered a bill to ban most abortions

State legislature threatened to pass major restriction on abortion access

Politicians in Wyoming tried, and failed, to pass a bill that would have banned most abortions in the state by preventing abortions after about 6 weeks of pregnancy.

This is an example of the activity we saw during the state legislative sessions of 2013. Some politicians don't seem to realize that each situation is different and a woman should have the opportunity to get the care she needs and make the best decision for her circumstances. Some politicians think we won't notice that they are interfering with our personal, private decisions. They must think we're stupid.

These proposed laws limiting access to abortion are part of a coordinated national campaign. The goal of this strategy is clear – extremist politicians want to interfere in private and personal decisions best left to a woman, her family and her doctor.

This year, two states, North Dakota and Arkansas, banned abortion care for many women. In other states politicians pushed (or passed) measures that include impossible-to-meet requirements on doctors and clinics and other restrictions on accessing abortion care. They are doing everything they can to outlaw women’s health centers.

They think we won’t catch on. They think we’re stupid, that we won’t realize that all these so-called restrictions are part of a plan to shut down women’s health centers and block access to abortion for a woman, no matter what her circumstances.

But we are not stupid.

We know that the laws the state legislators are pushing will make it impossible for clinics to stay open, for doctors to treat women based on medicine and not politics, and for women to make decisions – free from political interference — about our pregnancies, our health, and our families.

This map is current as of August 5, 2013.

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