1. What states have laws allowing abortion in cases of rape or incest?

As of 2021, abortion in cases of rape or incest is legal in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia also have laws that limit access to abortion in cases of rape or incest.

2. What states have laws requiring parental consent for minors seeking an abortion?

In the United States, 38 out of 50 states have laws requiring parental consent or notification for minors seeking an abortion. These states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

3. What states have laws restricting abortion after a certain gestational age?

A number of states have passed laws restricting abortion after a certain gestational age, including Arkansas (18 weeks), Arizona (20 weeks), Georgia (20 weeks), Idaho (20 weeks), Indiana (20 weeks), Iowa (20 weeks), Louisiana (15 weeks), Mississippi (15 weeks), Missouri (20 weeks), North Dakota (20 weeks), Ohio (20 weeks), South Carolina (20 weeks), South Dakota (20 weeks), Tennessee (15 weeks) and Texas (22 weeks).

4. What states are currently facing legal challenges to their abortion laws?

Currently, the states facing legal challenges to their abortion laws are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

5. How have court decisions regarding abortion impacted access in different states?

Court decisions regarding abortion have had a significant impact on access in different states. In some states, court decisions have overturned laws that sought to limit or restrict access to abortion, while in other states, court decisions have upheld laws that seek to limit or restrict access to abortion. For example, the Supreme Court’s decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt (2016) struck down two Texas laws designed to limit access to abortion and thus expanded abortion access in the state of Texas. Conversely, in June 2020 the Supreme Court upheld a Louisiana law that required doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, which could reduce access to abortion in Louisiana.

6. What states have passed heartbeat bills that prohibit abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected?

In 2019, heartbeat bills were passed in Ohio, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana and Missouri. Alabama passed a bill in May 2019 that would make it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy. However, the law has not yet gone into effect due to legal challenges. Arkansas and Utah have also passed similar legislation, but those bills have been blocked by the courts.

7. What states have recently passed laws protecting abortion providers from harassment?

In 2019, Nevada, Maryland, Illinois, New York, and Vermont passed laws which protect abortion providers from harassment.

8. What state has the most restrictive abortion laws in the U.S.?

As of 2021, the state with the most restrictive abortion laws in the U.S. is Alabama.

9. What states allow women to obtain abortions without a doctor’s referral or approval?

Women can obtain abortions without a doctor’s referral or approval in most US states. In some states, such as California, Oregon, and Washington, women may self-manage their abortions without a doctor’s referral or approval. In other states, such as New York and Maryland, women are able to access abortion care without an additional doctor’s referral or approval if they meet certain requirements.

10. In what states can pharmacists refuse to fill a prescription for an abortion-inducing medication?

The exact list of states that allow pharmacists to refuse to fill a prescription for an abortion-inducing medication varies, but generally they are: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

11. In what states are there legal protections for pregnant workers?

Currently, 33 U.S. states have laws protecting pregnant workers, including the District of Columbia. These states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Rhode Island.

12. In what states is telemedicine used to provide abortions?

Telemedicine is currently used in 19 states—Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

13. In what states do insurance plans not cover abortion services?

In states that have enacted laws prohibiting the use of public funds to cover abortion services, insurance plans will not cover abortion services. These states include Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.

14. In what states are there restrictions on the use of public funding for abortions?

There are 36 states with restrictions on the use of public funding for abortions, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

15. In what states do private insurers have to cover abortion services?

Private insurers must cover abortion services in the following states:
California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

16. In what states can employers deny health insurance coverage for abortions to their employees?

Employers in all 50 states can deny health insurance coverage for abortions to their employees. The Supreme Court ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014) allows employers with sincerely held religious beliefs to deny health insurance coverage for certain types of procedures or services, including abortion. Some states have passed laws that protect employees’ access to abortion services, but these laws are not binding in all cases.

17. In what states do health care providers have to provide medically accurate information about abortion services?

In the United States, health care providers are required to provide medically accurate information about abortion services in all 50 states. However, some states have additional restrictions on the provision of abortion services, such as informed consent requirements, waiting periods, and/or parental consent or notification laws.

18. What states require women seeking an abortion to undergo mandatory counseling or wait periods?

In the United States, several states require women to receive mandatory counseling or wait periods before undergoing an abortion. These states include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

19. What states provide access to safe and legal self-managed abortions?

Currently, safe and legal self-managed abortions are available in California, Oregon, New Jersey, and Washington. The so-called “abortion pill” is also available in most states, with some restrictions.

20. What states require health care providers to offer patients information about the risks and benefits of abortion?

The states that require health care providers to offer patients information about the risks and benefits of abortion are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.