Wyoming has pushed to the front of efforts to prohibit the most common type of abortion with the nation’s first explicit ban on abortion pills. In many states women can now get abortion pills prescribed online and delivered to be taken at home. Increased availability has helped pill abortions now account for more than half of abortions in the U.S. Yet while many states effectively ban abortion pills by prohibiting abortion, none had taken direct aim at abortion laws before Wyoming.
Fifteen states restrict access to the pills. Of those, six — Arizona, Indiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota and South Carolina — require a doctor to administer them in person. Arizona also bans mailing abortion pills.
Minnesota is moving to strengthen its status as a refuge for patients from restrictive states who travel to the state to seek abortions — and to protect providers who serve them. The state House on Monday voted 68-62 to prohibit enforcement in Minnesota of laws, subpoenas, judgements or extradition requests from other states against people who get, perform or assist with abortions in Minnesota. Supporters say a prime example of what they’re worried about is a Texas law that deputizes individuals to enforce their state’s restrictions by allowing them to sue to anyone who helps a patient obtain an abortion elsewhere.
AP
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