The United States Supreme Court on Friday voted in favor of a Mississippi law that would ban most abortions after the fifteenth week of pregnancy, paving the way for many states to dramatically curb their current abortion rights.
The ruling from the court on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization effectively overturns the 1973 Roe v. Wade case, returning legal authority on abortion to individual states and allowing them to remove or strictly limit access to abortions.
Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution generally protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion.
In Massachusetts, abortion will remain legal because it’s recognized under the state’s constitution.
Here is what the court’s decision means for the rest of the New England states, according to an analysis by the New York Times and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
New Hampshire: Only New England state that does not have a law explicitly protecting abortion rights. Abortion will most likely stay accessible, though it is not expressly protected by state law. The state repealed a pre-Roe ban on abortion in 1997.
Maine: In 2019, Maine passed two laws expanding abortion access, including allowing non-doctor medical professionals to perform abortions and authorizing state funding for abortions for Medicaid recipients.
Rhode Island: In 2019 a law was signed for Rhode Island’s Reproductive Privacy Act, which protects a woman’s right to get an abortion in the state.
Connecticut: The right to an abortion has been part of Connecticut state law since 1990. Connecticut lawmakers passed a bill that expands access to providers and shields both providers and patients from out-of-state lawsuits.
Vermont: State law protects abortion throughout pregnancy. In November, voters will decide if the State Constitution should include abortion protection.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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