In light of the monumental Supreme Court leak of the draft majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, now is a good time to revisit where the states stand on protecting life.  

If the draft majority opinion is any indication of what the Court’s final decision might be, there is certainly cause for cautious optimism in the pro-life movement. 

As reported by The Daily Citizen, “Chief Justice John Roberts has confirmed the authenticity of the Alito draft while warning that it is not the court’s final opinion.” 

Come this June, or perhaps sooner, the Court will release the final opinion. Votes may change, but if they do not, abortion policy moving forward will be developed on a state-by-state basis.  

Pro-life and pro-abortion groups agree that if Roe v. Wade falls, 26 states are already equipped or very likely to restrict abortion early in the pregnancy. Below is a list of pro-life states willing to protect preborn babies. 

States that will protect preborn babies: 

  1. Alabama 
  2. Arizona 
  3. Arkansas 
  4. Georgia 
  5. Idaho 
  6. Iowa 
  7. Kentucky 
  8. Louisiana 
  9. Michigan 
  10. Mississippi 
  11. Missouri 
  12. North Dakota 
  13. Ohio 
  14. Oklahoma 
  15. South Carolina 
  16. South Dakota 
  17. Tennessee 
  18. Texas 
  19. Utah 
  20. West Virginia 
  21. Wisconsin 
  22. Wyoming 

 

States likely to protect preborn babies:  

  1. Florida 
  2. Indiana 
  3. Montana 
  4. Nebraska  

Family Research Council has also created an interactive map that outlines pro-life laws in each state and does an excellent job breaking down the policy differences. It also clearly identifies the states that will not protect life under current law. Below is a list of pro-abortion states. 

States that will protect abortion: 

  1. Alaska 
  2. California 
  3. Colorado 
  4. Connecticut 
  5. Delaware 
  6. Hawaii 
  7. Illinois 
  8. Maine 
  9. Maryland 
  10. Massachusetts 
  11. Minnesota 
  12. Nevada  
  13. New Jersey 
  14. New Mexico 
  15. New York 
  16. Oregon 
  17. Rhode Island 
  18. Vermont  
  19. Virginia  
  20. Washington

This is the time to pray and stay engaged in pro-life efforts in your state. If Roe is overturned, our work at the state-level to promote the pro-life movement will have more consequence than ever before.   

State Family Policy Councils, allies of Focus on the Family, work to pass pro-life and pro-family legislation. Contact Your State Policy Group  to learn more about what’s happening in your state and how you can get involved.

Image from NY Post.