This story was originally published August 5, 2022. It has been updated with new information.
When Roe v. Wade, the federal abortion rights guarantee, was overturned in late June, several states across the country were expected to implement abortion bans almost immediately through “trigger laws” set to take effect in Roe’s absence. But in some states—including Wyoming, North Dakota, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, and Utah—abortion rights advocates and providers have brought legal challenges that have temporarily limited abortion bans or paused their implementation. Abortion rights have prevailed so far in states like Michigan and Kansas. In Michigan, residents voted to support a ballot measure that guaranteed a right to abortion in the state’s constitution. And in Kansas, voters rejected an amendment that would have removed the right to abortion from the state’s constitution and allowed lawmakers to restrict or ban abortion.
With a number of legal challenges still pending, it can be hard to keep track of what’s happening in your state in regard to abortion rights. Below, we’ve outlined what you need to know and where to look for the latest information about the laws where you live.
Why is everything changing so fast?
Ever since Roe was overturned, abortion rights advocates and providers in states that had previously passed “trigger laws” have been filing legal challenges to prevent bans from being implemented, if only temporarily. Those legal challenges have been successful in several states—which is why abortion is still legal in some conservative states that were expected to almost automatically ban abortion without Roe. In some of these states, temporary injunctions or restraining orders have prevented the implementation of abortion bans or restrictions before a decision is made in the courts.
Which states should we be watching and why?
Besides Kansas, where voters already decided to keep abortion legal, abortion bans have been blocked temporarily in states including Utah, Wyoming, South Carolina, Ohio, and Indiana—which means abortion is still legal there for now (albeit, with limitations in most cases). It’s worth keeping an eye on what happens in the near future.
Idaho, which has a near-total abortion ban that took effect in late August, is also worth watching. The state is facing a legal challenge from Planned Parenthood, and on August 2, the Biden administration sued the state over its abortion ban, arguing that the ban would conflict with the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act and inhibit ER doctors from performing abortions on pregnant people experiencing a medical emergency.
Where can I keep track of what’s happening in my state?
It can be hard to keep track of the news in each state. Here are the best places to get updated information on what’s happening where you live: