A new report from The Guttmacher Institute reveals a substantial decline in abortions performed in Florida in 2024, following the implementation of the state’s controversial 6-week abortion ban in 2023. The data indicates a drop of approximately 12,100 abortions, with 73,710 procedures administered in 2024 compared to 85,770 the previous year.
The law, signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in April 2023, prohibits abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy. It includes limited exceptions for victims of rape, incest, or human trafficking, allowing abortions up to 15 weeks in those specific cases.
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The implementation of the “heartbeat bill” followed a period of intense political and legal maneuvering. A November 2023 ballot initiative that aimed to overturn the state’s abortion restrictions was ultimately defeated by voters. Additionally, a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood in 2022, challenging the state’s previous 15-week abortion ban, was ultimately unsuccessful, with the Florida Supreme Court ruling against the challenge.
Governor DeSantis had been a vocal opponent of efforts to expand abortion access in the state. Regarding the 2024 ballot initiative, he stated it would “allow abortion in Florida up until birth and will invalidate all pro-life protections in state law.”
The Guttmacher Institute report highlights similar trends in other states with newly implemented abortion restrictions. South Carolina, which also passed a 6-week ban in 2023, saw a decline of roughly 3,500 abortions in 2024. Interestingly, even states with fewer abortion restrictions, such as Colorado and New Mexico, experienced declines of around 2,400 abortions during the same period.
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However, the report also indicates a shifting landscape in abortion access across the country. Wisconsin witnessed a dramatic 388% increase in abortions between 2023 and 2024, rising from 1,300 to 6,100. Arizona, California, Kansas, Ohio, and Virginia also reported increases exceeding 3,000 within the same timeframe.
The number of individuals traveling out of state for abortion care saw a decrease from 169,700 in 2023 to 155,100 in 2024. Illinois, North Carolina, Kansas, and New Mexico continued to be the primary destinations for out-of-state patients.
Notably, the report suggests a growing reliance on medication abortion obtained through online clinics. Nationwide, approximately 40,000 more abortions occurred via this method in 2024 compared to the previous year.
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