Roe v. Wade was still the law of the land until a year ago Saturday. The people and their representatives at all levels of government had little ability to protect life.
Now, nearly 25 states have enacted laws to protect babies between conception and 12 weeks. We reached this milestone before the first anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization thanks to incredible momentum within the course of 10 days last month.
On May 16, the General Assembly in my home state of North Carolina established a 12-week protection for unborn children through a veto override. The victory came despite Gov. Roy Cooper’s effort to bully four Republicans into siding with him, which culminated in a rally on Mother’s Day weekend to keep late-term abortions in North Carolina. Thank goodness he failed, due to courageous lawmakers holding the line.
Six days after the North Carolina win, Nebraska enacted its own 12-week protections when Gov. Jim Pillen signed the Preborn Child Protection Act into law. Nebraska legislators rallied to pass the bill after they fell one vote short of a filibuster-proof majority to approve a heartbeat bill. Even though the heartbeat protection was the initial effort for local advocates, lawmakers persevered to make progress in Nebraska by eliminating brutal late-term abortions.
South Carolina then joined their ranks with a law protecting unborn children. After time in the regular legislative session ran out, Gov. Henry McMaster called legislators back to pass a law to protect babies in the womb. Following marathon days in the House, where Democrats tried to stall by introducing 1,000 amendments, the Senate speedily passed the bill, and McMaster has signed it.
Movement to protect life gains momentum across US
Though the other side saw nowhere near this kind of momentum in the states this year, most of the news media won’t acknowledge the wins of the first post-Dobbs legislative season. Those who concede there is momentum to protect life in the states mischaracterize it in just about every way you can imagine.
Democrats refer to the heartbeat protections signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as “one of the most extreme bans in the country,” despite several other states protecting babies at the same gestational age.
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The truth is that life is winning in the hearts and minds of Americans. There is momentum in saving lives and serving mothers. Governors and legislators are advancing protections that reflect the compassionate will of the people and the science, and in many cases, expanding the safety net for mothers and children at the same time.
Multiple states pass laws to protect unborn children
Beyond victories already mentioned, Indiana and West Virginia established protection laws during special sessions. North Dakota and Wyoming passed protections for unborn children throughout pregnancy that address legal hurdles they’ve faced before. Utah ended the licensing of abortion facilities. Idaho became the first state to outlaw abortion trafficking, that is, taking a minor for an abortion without parents’ consent. Kansas legislators overrode their governor’s vetoes of protections for babies born alive in failed abortions and providing women information about the option of abortion pill reversal. Montana established its own born-alive protections, added abortion facility licensing requirements, ended live-dismemberment abortions and is stopping taxpayer dollars from being funneled toward abortion.
Meanwhile, North Carolina lawmakers approved $160 million for child care, paid parental leave and community college assistance for parents; Florida allocated an additional $25 million for pregnancy centers; Mississippi passed foster care and adoption reforms; and West Virginia established the Mothers and Babies Support Program.
Some bad bills have become law this year as well. Colorado outlawed abortion pill reversal, and Minnesota and Maryland moved to enshrine abortion on demand. States like California, New York and Illinois where we have not seen progress are a reminder that we need national minimum protections so that abortion policies in America don’t mirror North Korea and China.
As the movement to protect life celebrates Year One of saving thousands of children we couldn’t before, we recognize our job is nowhere close to finished. We will continue the work to save more lives in the states and firmly advocate for national minimum protections. We’re only a year past Dobbs, and we’re just getting started.
Marjorie Dannenfelser is president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
