Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signed a bill into law on Monday that bans abortions after embryonic cardiac activity can be detected, typically around six weeks of pregnancy and often before women are aware they are pregnant.
Key Takeaways
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, making Wyoming the fifth state to implement such a restriction. The law does not include exceptions for rape or incest but allows exemptions to protect the woman's life or health.
- Wyoming becomes the fifth state with a six-week abortion ban.
- Governor Gordon expresses misgivings about lack of exceptions for rape or incest.
- Law includes exception to preserve the woman’s life or health.
- Abortion clinic prepares to challenge the law in court.
The signing makes Wyoming the fifth state to bar abortions at this stage of pregnancy, joining Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and South Carolina. Thirteen other states have implemented bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions.
Governor Gordon, a Republican, expressed reservations about the law in a letter to lawmakers. He noted that it does not include exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, stating that this aspect does not align with his pro-life stance due to concerns for vulnerable populations.
The law does provide an exception to preserve the woman's life or health if she faces imminent peril, as determined by appropriate medical judgment. Gordon also expressed concern that the law will likely lead to further litigation, noting that the state’s Supreme Court struck down a previous ban on abortion throughout pregnancy in January.
Julie Burkhart, president of Wellspring Health Access — Wyoming's only clinic offering both abortion procedures and medication abortions — announced plans to challenge the new ban in court. She stated that the ban attacks constitutional freedoms and puts communities at risk.
Abortion access in Wyoming has been inconsistent due to various factors, including an arson attack on the state’s sole clinic in 2022, which delayed its opening. The state Health Department reported 625 abortions in 2024, with the clinic providing 303 abortions in 2025.
Katie Knutter, executive director of the Casper-based clinic, said that staff have started referring patients who are farther along in their pregnancies to providers in other states. The legal landscape for abortion has been fluid since a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturned Roe v. Wade.
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