State Abortion Restrictions: A Guide to Recent Legislation

South Carolina’s Republican governor, Henry McMaster, made headlines Thursday by signing a bill that effectively bans abortion in the state after six weeks of pregnancy. The new law, which allows exceptions for fatal fetal abnormalities, risks to the mother’s life and health, and cases of rape or incest with a police report and approval from two doctors, has sparked controversy and debate across the nation.

This move by South Carolina is just the latest in a series of strict abortion restrictions implemented by individual states since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer. States like Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi, and South Dakota had already passed “trigger laws” banning abortion in anticipation of the court’s decision.

In recent months, eight other Republican-led states have also passed new laws restricting abortion at various stages of pregnancy, further fueling the ongoing debate over reproductive rights in the United States.

The new law in South Carolina comes after a previous trigger law was struck down by the state Supreme Court in January, allowing abortion until 22 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion providers in the state immediately challenged the new law in court, leading to a temporary restraining order blocking its implementation.

Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Florida, Indiana, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Idaho have also implemented new abortion restrictions since last summer, with each state enacting its own set of rules and exceptions.

These developments highlight the ongoing battle over abortion rights in the United States, with advocates on both sides of the issue continuing to push for their beliefs and values to be reflected in state laws. As the debate rages on, the future of reproductive rights in America remains uncertain.