States, courts, and advocates clash over abortion access
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Columbia, S.C. Republican lawmakers and groups announced and debated new abortion restrictions while courts and voters shaped access across several states. In South Carolina, legislators announced a 'sweeping' restriction and bill stalled in a November subcommittee vote. In Missouri, Planned Parenthood sued after Amendment 3 passed, triggering trials and legal maneuvers including a May 2025 legislative repeal effort and a state supreme court decision. In Ohio, an appeals court sent parts of a 2019 abortion-law lawsuit back to trial court. In Arizona, closing arguments recently challenged waiting periods and telemedicine bans. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.
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Timeline
- 1. 2019: Ohio enacted Senate Bill 23, creating a near-total abortion-ban framework.
- 2. November 2024: Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 to restore abortion rights.
- 3. December 2024: Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang temporarily blocked enforcement of Missouri restrictions.
- 4. May 2025: Missouri General Assembly approved HJR 73 and the Missouri Supreme Court overruled Judge Zhang’s injunction.
- 5. Early 2026: Appeals court actions, Arizona closing arguments, and a South Carolina press conference renewed legislative and legal contests.
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