RALEIGH, N.C. — This is the last full week that abortion from 12-20 weeks of pregnancy will be legal in North Carolina.
The Care for Women, Children, and Families Act bans most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy. The new law is set to take effect July 1.
The Republican-controlled General Assembly overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto last month. The new law does make exceptions for incest, rape and in case of a risk to the mother.
Nearly a year before lawmakers changed abortion services in North Carolina, the world watched as the U.S. Supreme Court unveiled the Dobbs decision that upended Roe v. Wade. The decision by the justices sent power back to the states, allowing state legislatures to form their laws without constitutional guarantees for access to abortion.
Some rejoiced while others felt defeat. Tara Romano remembers that day well.
“We were prepared for that, but it was still devastating. It was a devastating day,” Romano said.
Romano is the executive director of Pro-Choice NC, an advocacy group connecting families and pregnant women to reproductive health care resources.
“I think it creates a lot of uncertainty. Anytime, actually, abortion access is in the news, people will, particularly patients, will get confused. They just hear at the federal level, the Supreme Court overturned Roe. And then they will call their clinics where they have an appointment and say, ‘Do I still have an appointment? What’s going on?’” Romano said.
Supporters of limits on abortion and many state Republicans are pleased with the change.
“North Carolina Republicans have passed reasonable restrictions on abortion that align with North Carolina values and are well within the mainstream of public opinion on this critical issue,” NCGOP spokesperson Jeff Moore said in a statement.
A lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of the South Atlantic and an OBGYN from Duke challenges a component of the bill requiring sexual assault survivors to receive an abortion at hospitals but not clinics. A change in wording in the law passed the state Senate on Thursday.
The plaintiffs are asking for a temporary restraining order to block the law from taking effect.
The lawsuit is scheduled to be heard in a Greensboro federal district court next Wednesday.