Abortion in Pennsylvania

[8] An early abortion ban (HB 2315) was introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on May 2, 2018, primarily sponsored by Rep. Rick Saccone.

[12][13] As of August 9, 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro says the state will not renew its funding contract with anti-abortion nonprofit Real Alternatives when it expires at the end of the year.

Real Alternatives distributes funds to crisis pregnancy centers, nonprofit "clinics" that are often religiously affiliated and known to frequently disseminate deceptive and emotionally manipulative information to attempt to dissuade women from having abortions.

[16] The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in 1973's Roe v. Wade ruling meant the state could no longer regulate abortion in the first trimester.

"[26] Prior to fetus viability, the plurality held, the State can show concern for fetal development, but it cannot pose an undue burden on a woman's fundamental right to abortion.

[27] The plurality reasoned that the new pre- and post-viability line would still uphold the essential holding of Roe, which recognized both the woman's constitutionally protected liberty, and the State's "important and legitimate interest in potential life.

"[28] In replacing the trimester framework with the viability framework, the plurality also replaced the strict scrutiny analysis under Roe, with the "undue burden" standard previously developed by O'Connor in her dissent in City of Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health.

[29] A legal restriction posing an undue burden is one that has "the purpose or effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a nonviable fetus.

We recognize that the "State has a legitimate interest in seeing to it that abortion, like any other medical procedure, is performed under circumstances that insure maximum safety for the patient."

But, we added, "a statute which, while furthering [a] valid state interest, has the effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman's choice cannot be considered a permissible means of serving its legitimate ends."

Moreover, "[u]nnecessary health regulations that have the purpose or effect of presenting a substantial obstacle to a woman seeking an abortion impose an undue burden on the right."

Applying this new standard to the challenged Pennsylvania Act, the plurality struck down the spousal notice requirement, finding that for many women, the statutory provision would impose a substantial obstacle in their path to receive an abortion.

[40]In 2024, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the state's Medicaid program was required to pay for abortion services for participating residents.

She had branches in several other cities including Boston and Philadelphia, as well as having traveling agents working for the company who sold her "Female Monthly Pills".

[53] out-of-state residents Women from the state participated in marches supporting abortion rights as part of a #StoptheBans movement in May 2019.

[58] Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, abortion rights protests were held in Erie,[59] Lancaster,[60] Philadelphia,[61] and Pittsburgh.