CNA Staff, Aug 26, 2025 /
14:57 pm
In nine states and in the nation’s capital, unborn life is not protected at any stage of life. Another 18 states do not protect unborn life until some point in the second trimester of pregnancy.
But some states are leading the charge in defending unborn life, with a dozen states protecting life throughout pregnancy in most cases, and another seven states protecting unborn children at some point within the first trimester of life.
CNA is unveiling three new interactive maps to show where each state in the U.S. stands on life issues — the protection of unborn life, the death penalty, and assisted suicide. The maps will be updated as new information on each issue becomes available.
Below is an analysis of the map that shows where each state stands on abortion laws as of August 2025.
After the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade, abortion legislation returned to the states. But in 2024, Americans had more than 1 million abortions, according to the latest data.
When it comes to unborn human life, only 19 states in the U.S. protect unborn children from abortion during the first trimester of their lives.
Twelve states protect life throughout pregnancy with some exceptions. Soon after Roe was overturned, Texas prohibited almost all abortions, leading the charge alongside a few other states whose pro-life trigger laws went into effect.
Seven states protect unborn children within the first trimester, usually at the times when the child’s heartbeat can be detected, which is about five to six weeks. Ohio led the charge for heartbeat legislation — laws that protect unborn children once the heartbeat can be detected.
Florida also passed a heartbeat law in 2023 under Gov. Ron DeSantis. Nebraska passed a pro-life constitutional amendment protecting life after 12 weeks.
In 18 states, laws protect life after 18-24 weeks. Most of these states protect life only after “fetal viability,” the time when a baby can survive outside the womb with medical support. Viability is usually estimated to be between 22 and 23 weeks by most doctors, but it continues to advance thanks to improving technology. For instance, a baby born last year celebrated his first birthday after being born at 21 weeks.
Unborn life is not protected up to birth in nine states and Washington, D.C. Alaska, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont have no protections for unborn children at any stage of development. In most of these states, taxpayer dollars also fund abortion.
Several states have passed ballot measures in recent years declaring a “right to abortion” or “reproductive freedom” under the state constitution. These states include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, and New York. In states with a right to abortion, the constitutional amendments leave room to expand already existing laws. While California currently allows abortion up to viability and up to birth in cases of the mother’s life or health, pro-life advocates warn that the constitutional right to abortion could lead to an expansion of abortion in the state.
Where does your state stand on life?
Alabama: Alabama has a constitutional amendment protecting “the sanctity of unborn life” and the right to life, approved in 2018. Abortion is only legal in Alabama if an attending licensed physician determines an abortion is necessary if the life of the mother is at risk.
Alaska: Alaska has no protections for life. Abortion is legal at any point in Alaska under the state constitutional right to privacy.
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Arizona: Arizona has some protections for life. Voters there definitively approved Proposition 139, which provides constitutionally for a “fundamental right to abortion.” The measure says that the state cannot restrict abortion until the point of “viability,” at approximately 24 weeks of pregnancy, unless it has a compelling reason and does so in the least restrictive way possible.
Arkansas: Arkansas protects life in all stages, with some exceptions. Abortion is only legal in Arkansas if the life of the mother is at risk.
California: California has some protections for life. Abortion is legal there until viability and until birth for the life or health of the mother. Californians approved a constitutional right to abortion in 2022.
Colorado: Colorado has no protections for life. In 2024, voters approved a constitutional right to abortion. In 2025, legislation passed to approve state funding of abortion.
Connecticut: Connecticut has some protections for life. Abortion is legal up until viability.
Delaware: In Delaware, life is protected after viability with some exceptions. Abortion is legal up until viability and after in cases of patient health risk or lethal fetal anomaly. The state funds abortion through Medicaid.
Washington, D.C.: Washington, D.C., has no protections for unborn life and abortion is legal through all nine months of pregnancy.
Florida: After implementing a heartbeat law in May 2024, Florida protects unborn children after six weeks. Voters rejected an abortion ballot measure in November 2024.
Georgia: Georgia protects unborn children at six weeks, when their heartbeats are detectable.
Hawaii: Hawaii protects life after viability and funds abortion via Medicaid.
Idaho: Idaho protects unborn children at all stages of pregnancy, with exceptions if the mother’s life is at risk.
Illinois: Illinois protects life after viability, which it estimates to be at 24-26 weeks. State Medicaid funds abortion.
Indiana: Indiana protects life throughout pregnancy with some exceptions. The state also prohibits abortion based on the race, sex, or disability of the unborn child.
Iowa: Iowa protects life after the unborn child’s heartbeat is detectable (six weeks). After six weeks, there are exceptions to these protections in cases of a medical emergency; if the unborn child is a product of rape or incest; or if the child has an abnormality.
Kansas: Kansas protects life after 22 weeks, when the unborn child can feel pain; abortion is legal after if there is a threat to the life of the mother or to prevent irreversible physical damage to her body.
Kentucky: Kentucky protects life throughout pregnancy with exceptions if the mother’s life is at risk.
Louisiana: Louisiana protects life throughout pregnancy except to save the life of the mother or to prevent substantial impairment. Physicians are urged to attempt to save both lives.
Maine: Maine protects life after viability with exceptions for the life and health of the mother.
Maryland: Maryland does not protect unborn life at any stage. A constitutional amendment in 2024 created a right to “reproductive freedom” in the state. The state allows abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.
Massachusetts: Massachusetts protects life after 24 weeks, after which there are exceptions for the mother’s life or physical or mental health, and for lethal or grave fetal diagnosis. State Medicaid funds cover abortion.
Michigan: Michigan does not protect life at any point. The state approved a constitutional right to “reproductive freedom” in 2022. Abortion is legal through all nine months of pregnancy, though the constitutional provision allows the state to enact some regulations after viability.
Minnesota: Minnesota has no protection for unborn children. The state has a right to abortion under its right to privacy in the constitution and funds abortion. Gov. Tim Walz signed a law in 2023 that prevents local governments from regulating access to “reproductive health care.”
Mississippi: Mississippi protects life at all stages with exceptions for preservation of the mother’s life or cases of rape.
Missouri: Missouri’s abortion law is in flux. Voters approved a constitutional right to abortion in 2024, but how this right is enforced is still being determined in court.
Montana: Montana protects life after viability. The state approved a right to abortion in its constitution in 2024. A court in June 2025 struck down laws protecting life after 20 weeks of gestation. A pro-life group called Montana Family Foundation has filed a lawsuit alleging that the abortion rights ballot measure was invalid because it did not show the full text to voters.
Nebraska: Nebraska protects life after 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the unborn child can feel pain. In 2024, Nebraska passed a constitutional amendment protecting life in the second and third trimesters except in cases of medical emergencies, rape, or incest.
Nevada: Nevada protects life after 24 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions after for the health or life of the mother. State Medicaid covers abortions.
New Hampshire: New Hampshire protects life after 24 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions after in cases of medical emergencies or fetal anomalies.
New Jersey: New Jersey does not protect life at any stage of pregnancy. Courts have recognized a right to privacy including abortion for decades, and the state funds abortion.
New Mexico: New Mexico does not protect life at any point of pregnancy, and the state funds abortion.
New York: New York does not protect life at any point during pregnancy, and state funding goes toward abortion. In 2024, New York created a constitutional right to abortion. Abortion was legal in New York in 1970, prior to the Roe v. Wade decision.
North Carolina: North Carolina protects unborn children after 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the unborn child can feel pain, as of 2023.
North Dakota: North Dakota protects unborn children after viability. A judge recently ruled that the state’s abortion law protecting unborn children throughout pregnancy was unconstitutional.
Ohio: Ohio protects life at 20 weeks from fertilization. In 2023, the state passed an amendment creating a constitutional right to abortion.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma protects life throughout all nine months of pregnancy except when the mother’s life is at risk.
Oregon: Oregon does not protect life at any stage of pregnancy, and the state funds abortion.
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania protects life after 24 weeks, with exceptions for the mother’s health or life.
Rhode Island: Rhode Island protects life after fetal viability under the Reproductive Privacy Act, passed in 2019. The state funds abortion.
South Carolina: South Carolina protects unborn children after six weeks under the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act, with some exceptions for rape, incest, medical emergencies, or fatal fetal anomalies.
South Dakota: South Dakota protects unborn children throughout pregnancy except to save the life of the mother.
Tennessee: Tennessee law protects unborn children in all stages, with exceptions to save the life of the mother or prevent major bodily damage.
Texas: Texas protects unborn children in all stages except when the life or health of the mother is at risk.
Utah: Utah protects unborn children after 18 weeks of gestation.
Vermont: Vermont does not protect unborn life at any point during pregnancy. The state’s constitution was amended in 2022 to include a right to abortion. The state also funds abortion.
Virginia: Virginia protects life after 28 weeks of pregnancy, meaning that abortion is legal until the end of the second trimester, and after in cases of serious risk to the woman’s health or life.
Washington: Washington protects life after viability with exceptions if there is a threat to the life or health of the mother. State Medicaid covers abortion.
West Virginia: West Virginia protects unborn children in all stages of pregnancy except in medical emergencies, cases of rape or incest, or if the unborn child is deemed “nonviable.”
Wisconsin: Wisconsin protects unborn children after 20 weeks, with exceptions to save the life or health of the mother. The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently struck down an 1849 law protecting life.
Wyoming: Wyoming protects life after the unborn child is viable outside the womb. The state is engaged in legal battles over two abortion laws: one that protects life in most cases and another that bans chemical abortions via abortion pills.
Where does the Church stand on abortion?
The Church opposes direct abortions in all cases, teaching that human life must be protected at all stages. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception” (CCC, 2270).
“Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion,” the catechism continues. “This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable (CCC, 2271).
Notably, the Church does not teach that the life of the child must be preferred to the life of the mother but rather instructs doctors “to make every effort to save the lives of both, of the mother and the child.” The U.S. bishops encourage every Catholic parish to offer support to pregnant mothers in need.
Kate Quiñones is a staff writer for Catholic News Agency and a fellow of the College Fix. She has been published by the Wall Street Journal, the Denver Catholic Register, and CatholicVote, and she graduated from Hillsdale College. She lives in Colorado with her husband.
