Abortion

A Senate version advanced through another committee, although lawmakers on both sides of the aisle see problems in the measure.

The statewide total of 60,755 abortions in 2024 was down 28% from 84,052 in 2023, a trend sought by supporters of the law. The state's three largest counties each reported declines of more than 20%.

The ruling by a Texas judge against a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a woman near Dallas could test "shield laws" in Democratic-controlled states where abortion is legal.

The Florida Board of Medicine fined and reprimanded Dr. Candace Sue Cooley, who did not comply in 2022 with a law requiring 24-hour waiting periods before abortions can be performed.

A legislative effort to expand access to prenatal care in rural Oregon with mobile clinics was scuttled because those clinics would have provided abortions in rural areas.

The ruling comes after Floridians Protecting Freedom, a political committee that led unsuccessful efforts to pass the abortion ballot measure, filed a notice that it was dropping its challenge against the state.

The panel investigates deaths of pregnant women. A member presumably released information about two such deaths and an agency investigation wasn't able to identify who disclosed the details.

Opponents filed the lawsuits last month in various parts of the state and sought to invalidate the failed abortion-rights ballot measure.

The narrow defeat of Amendment 4 means Florida's six-week abortion ban will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. Abortion funds say they need more money to help people travel out of state for care.

While large numbers of voters supported Amendment 4 in areas such as Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach and Pinellas counties, majorities opposed it in 40 counties.