In a terrible blow to reproductive care access and bodily autonomy for all Americans, the U.S. Supreme Court has overruled the right to abortion outlined in the historic 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
This reality, that our country's most powerful legal body will no longer protect a person's right to make their own personal health decisions, including the right to a safe abortion under federal law, is a hard one to fathom, even with months (or years, for many) of slowly building preparation for such a decision. Almost immediately, many states will enact "trigger bans(opens in a new tab)," or abortion laws designed to quickly go into action as soon as the Supreme Court's decision was announced. As of June 24, 13 states have such trigger bans — Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Another 13 states are expected to enact restrictive laws(opens in a new tab) in the future.
Despite the ruling, a network of activists and professionals have spent decades preparing for and fighting against this now-reality.
Reproductive rights organizations, legal institutions, and news organizations have created numerous resources to help guide people through the new restrictions, including many interactive maps(opens in a new tab) and infographics(opens in a new tab) about nationwide policies and access. Scroll on for additional state-specific resources about abortion access and legislation.
Lay of the Land: Abortion Policies and Access in the United States(opens in a new tab)
This map, created by reproductive and sexual health research organization the Guttmacher Institute(opens in a new tab), was created to document the travel distances for those seeking abortion care in a post Roe v. Wade world — a new reality that will force many to leave their home states to receive reproductive healthcare. The clickable map includes a drop down menu that includes additional information to travel estimates, including a level indicating how restrictive each state's laws are, state-specific demographics, and abortion statistics. Originally launched in 2021, this map is needed more than ever.
What Abortion Looks Like in Every State — Right Now(opens in a new tab)
The 19th(opens in a new tab)'s interactive map documents current restrictions on abortion, how people can access abortion care, and any other requirements adult patients might encounter during the process — you'll notice the main map is color coded based on gestational limits, or at what fetal age you are legally barred from getting an abortion. Below the map, you'll find an in-depth rundown of abortion laws in each state, including a live update of current abortion news, and a glossary of common terms.
Crisis Pregnancy Center Map(opens in a new tab)
The Crisis Pregnancy Center Map was designed to provide information to those seeking abortion care about crisis pregnancy centers(opens in a new tab) or "fake women's health centers" — these centers actively try to prevent pregnant people from getting abortions(opens in a new tab) and often do not follow medical standards for reproductive care. The map is the product of a research project led by Dr. Andrea Swartzendruber and Dr. Danielle Lambert of the epidemiology and biostatistics department in the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia. The map is searchable by both click navigation and by inputting your zip code or address to find centers operating near you, and it's a great resource to cross-check any healthcare centers you may be seeking out on your own.
What if Roe Fell?(opens in a new tab)
The Center for Reproductive Rights(opens in a new tab), a global legal advocacy group dedicated to advancing reproductive rights, maintains a map of current state-specific abortion legislation, updated in real time and organized by the level of legal severity, from bans to protections. You can search for both states and U.S. territories, or explore which states have explicit abortions bans, which have abortion restrictions, and which have abortion protections using the menu on the left. The site also includes a glossary of related terms to know, an overview of the nation's current legal landscape concerning reproductive rights, and action items for those interested in getting involved in the legislative fight for reproductive rights.
Find Your Local Clinic & Funds(opens in a new tab)
This map is compiled by the national arts initiative, Noise for Now(opens in a new tab), which connects artists and entertainers with grassroots reproductive justice organizations. The interactive Google Map overlay includes Planned Parenthood(opens in a new tab) health centers, independent abortion clinics(opens in a new tab), as well as abortion funds, sourced from the nonprofits Abortion Care Network(opens in a new tab) and the National Abortion Federation(opens in a new tab).
