Abortion Access Changes Across US Following Dobbs Decision

Why it matters locally: While the District of Columbia has maintained broad abortion access post-Dobbs, its position as a federal district means that federal legislative efforts could still directly impact local abortion access, underscoring its unique political vulnerability compared to states.

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On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that overturned *Roe v. Wade*, ending the constitutional right to abortion. This decision transferred the authority to regulate abortion to individual states. Immediately after the ruling, states began to implement new laws concerning abortion access. The Supreme Court's decision changed the legal framework for abortion in the United States. States now hold the power to prohibit or permit abortion within their borders. This has resulted in a diverse set of regulations across the country, with some states enacting near-total bans and others maintaining broad access.