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Press Release
Reproductive Freedom for All Slams First-Ever Direct Attack on State Shield Laws
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Contact: [email protected]
Reproductive Freedom for All Slams First-Ever Direct Attack on State Shield Laws
Washington, DC — Today, a trio of Republican-led states launched the first-ever direct challenge to shield laws, which protect abortion providers and patients from out-of-state prosecution. This alarming lawsuit, Louisiana v. New York, was filed directly to the Supreme Court seeking to strike down shield laws in New York, California, and Massachusetts.
Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju released the following statement:
“Providers should not be punished for providing safe, legal care. Today’s lawsuit is the latest proof that Republicans were never going to leave abortion to the states — their ultimate goal is to ban abortion nationwide. The stakes couldn’t be higher to elect champions of reproductive freedom this November who will hold the line against these relentless attacks.”
Shield laws protect clinicians who provide care that is legal in states where they practice. By the end of 2025, providers working under shield laws cared for nearly 15,000 patients a month. These laws also protect patients receiving care, and people who help others access abortion care.
Today’s challenge was revealed in a letter that Louisana AG Murrill sent to the Fifth Circuit related to its consideration of the Louisiana v. FDA case—a case where Louisiana is challenging FDA authority and seeking to impose medically unnecessary restrictions on access to medication abortion. New York, California, and Massachusetts have until the end of November to respond to this new lawsuit. The Supreme Court will then review the case and decide whether to grant Louisiana’s request.
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For over 55 years, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America) has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for everybody. Reproductive Freedom for All is powered by its more than 4.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.
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