Last June, the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that the right to an abortion is not constitutionally protected, overturning Roe v. Wade, the law of the land for nearly 50 years. The decision left many—doctors, legal scholars, pregnant people—wondering, What happens now?
Well, so far: Abortion is banned or severely restricted in 16 states (as of June 20, 2023), and according to new research by the Guttmacher Institute, nearly 700 abortion bills have been introduced in 2023 so far. (Half of the legislation has been to restrict access, while the other half is aimed at expanding it.) #WeCount data showed that an increase in abortion numbers in states friendly to the procedure did not make up for the decline in abortion-hostile states, meaning there are people who have not been able to get the care they seek.
