Washington, D.C — Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June, abortion access across the United States has crumbled: 14 states have in effect near-total abortion bans at any point in pregnancy, and six states have implemented abortion bans with limits that range from six to 18 weeks. As states have moved to criminalize and restrict abortion access, a new Center for American Progress column outlines eight actions that state attorneys general have taken and can still do to protect abortion rights.
While many state legislatures have passed bills to improve and expand abortion rights, attorneys general have also played an important role in both enforcing these abortion protections and taking independent actions. Some steps these state attorneys general have taken include:
- Establishing reproductive rights task forces to coordinate protection across the state
- Publishing know-your-rights guides
- Establishing a legal hotline or legal services website for abortion providers and the public
- Issuing legal guidance on the status of abortion
“As states continue to push legislation that restricts and criminalizes abortions, it’s up to state attorneys general to do everything within their power to protect the privacy, health, and safety of patients and providers,” said Becca Damante, senior policy analyst for the Women’s Initiative and author of the column. “Their unique powers as state attorneys general can cut through widespread misinformation on abortion access, help strengthen protections, and circulate truthful information on abortion rights.”
Read the column: “8 Ways State Attorneys General Have Protected Abortion Rights Since the Fall of Roe v. Wade” by Becca Damante
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sarah Nadeau at [email protected].