Overview

• The Indiana Supreme Court lifted an injunction on a law prohibiting nearly all abortions from conception, while allowing exceptions when necessary to save a woman's life or protect her from serious health risks.
• A federal judge allowed most provisions of North Carolina's 12-week abortion ban to take effect, though temporarily blocking one requirement for doctors to document the location of pregnancies with ultrasound evidence before prescribing medication abortion.
• The laws in both states ban most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, while allowing exceptions for rape, incest, life-limiting fetal anomalies and threats to the mother's life or health.
• Abortion rights groups argue the rulings deprive many of essential healthcare and disproportionately impact marginalized groups, though anti-abortion groups celebrate the states for upholding "fetal rights".
• Separate lawsuits in Indiana claim the law violates religious freedom, while amendments to North Carolina's law aim to clarify provisions challenged as too vague, contradictory, or restrictive.