After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, states were left to decide their own abortion laws. Fast forward to now, and some states like California and New York have expanded access, where others, like Texas and Alabama, have near-total bans. That means depending on where you live, your rights—and your healthcare options—can look wildly different.
Florida just passed a 6-week abortion ban, which basically makes access nearly impossible since many people don’t even know they’re pregnant that early. In April 2024, the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated a near-total abortion ban from 1864, allowing abortions only to save the mother’s life. However, this decision was short-lived. By May 2024, the Arizona legislature repealed the 1864 law, and as of September 2024, abortions are legal in Arizona up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. Wyoming’s sole abortion clinic, Wellspring Health Access, has suspended services due to new state laws requiring costly renovations and hospital admitting privileges for physicians. These regulations have made access to abortion services more difficult, especially in rural areas. In 2025, legislators in at least four states introduced bills to redefine “homicide” to include abortion, potentially allowing for the prosecution of women who undergo abortions. Federal Funding Restrictions: President Trump’s Executive Order 14182, signed in January 2025, reaffirms the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for elective abortions. This order revokes previous executive actions aimed at expanding reproductive healthcare access. Additionally, telemedicine abortion is on the rise, with pills being mailed after an online visit, though it is being challenged in courts.
So, why should you care? Even if you’re not thinking about reproductive health right now, this is about way more than just abortion. It’s about access to safe healthcare, doctor-patient privacy, and whether states can limit personal medical decisions. If you’re thinking about becoming a doctor, nurse, or any healthcare pro, this stuff affects you. Laws like these can change what you’re legally allowed to say or do for a patient. It’s not just political, it’s also
Works Cited
Associated Press. “Abortion Ban from 1864 Repealed by Arizona Lawmakers.” AP News, 1 May 2024. https://apnews.com
Associated Press. “Wyoming’s Only Abortion Clinic Suspends Services.” AP News, 5 Jan 2025. https://apnews.com
The Guardian. “States Push Bills to Classify Abortion as Homicide.” The Guardian, 23 Jan 2025. https://theguardian.com
Wikipedia. “Abortion in the United States.” Wikipedia, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_the_United_States
Wikipedia. “Executive Order 14182.” Wikipedia, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_14182