Sydney Jemmot (Director of Policy, Reproductive Rights) at State Innovation Exchange) and Kimya Forouzan detail five major trends in US SRHR policy, including abortion bans, youth restrictions, maternal health, fertility care and contraception access.
How US state legislatures are addressing reproductive rights in 2025
Transcript:
Sydney Jemmot: Here are five major trends shaping sexual and reproductive health and rights policy in the US right now. First, policymakers are ramping up efforts to control people's reproductive lives. Abortion bans based on gestational limits were just the beginning. This year, we've seen a wave of bills that would criminalize people for pregnancy outcomes like miscarriages and a push to grant legal rights to fetuses and embryos. This kind of legislation is designed to strip pregnant people of their bodily autonomy and take away their ability to make decisions about their own health care.
Kimya Forouzan: Second, policymakers continue to target young people's bodily autonomy and access to sexual and reproductive health care and information. This year, we saw bills aimed at limiting young people's access to sex education, abortion and gender-affirming care. LGBTQ youth are also being targeted when it comes to sports, restrooms and other public accommodations.
Sydney Jemmot: Third, the maternal health crisis continues, especially for Black communities. The data is clear. In states that have banned abortion, maternal health outcomes have worsened since Roe was overturned. Some states are responding by expanding access to doula and midwifery care, but there's still a long way to go.
Kimya Forouzan: Fourth, fertility care is getting new attention from policymakers. For the first time, we're seeing states with abortion bans also moving to protect access to fertility treatments like IVF. This shift underscores a critical point. Abortion bans don't just restrict abortion, they also threaten access to fertility care. We must ensure access to all forms of reproductive health care.
Sydney Jemmot: Fifth, in response to growing restrictions, many states are stepping up to protect access to contraception. As the reproductive health landscape continues to fracture across the country, contraception is emerging as a key focus area for states advancing proactive legislation, including efforts to expand insurance coverage and improve access to emergency contraception. For more, check out our new analysis at the link in the bio.