States introduce new laws after Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade

Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor announced the state trigger law banning abortions has gone into effect after the Supreme Court voted to strike down Roe v. Wade.

“As a result ... the authority of the State of Oklahoma to prohibit abortion has been confirmed, and the State of Oklahoma may enforce” statutes prohibiting abortion throughout pregnancy, O’Connor wrote in a release sent to state lawmakers Friday.

In a press conference later in the afternoon, he called the Supreme Court’s ruling “the most lifesaving decision in the history of our nation.”

Gov. Kevin Sitt also appeared at the press conference, during which he praised the court’s decision.

“You know when I ran for governor, I promised Oklahomans that I would sign every piece of pro-life legislation that hit my desk. and I'm thrilled to have kept that promise,” he said.

Last month, Stitt signed into law the strictest abortion ban in the U.S., effectively ending access to the procedure in Oklahoma.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced abortion is now banned in the state after a trigger law went into effect following the Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade.

“As of this morning, except where the health of the mother is at risk, abortion is no longer lawful in the commonwealth,” he said during a press conference Friday afternoon.

There is also an exception if a provider performs medical treatment that accidentally terminates a pregnancy, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that focuses on sexual and reproductive health.

Under the law, anybody who performs or attempts to perform an abortion will be charged with a Class D felony, publishable by one to five years in prison.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge signed the state's trigger law into effect, banning abortion in the state.

The Arkansas Human Life Protection Act was passed in 2019 and included a provision to activate if Roe v. Wade was overruled in part or in whole.

The law makes performing or attempting to perform an abortion a. felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

The only exception is if the mother's life is in danger.

Earlier Friday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson praised the court for its ruling, and tweeted, "For decades I have said Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided. Today, the Supreme Court overturned the abortion ruling and returned the issue to the states. Arkansas is a pro-life state, and we are able now to protect life."

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said Friday abortion is banned in the state after a trigger law went into effect following the Supreme Court's decision.

"My office and I will do everything in our power to ensure the laws of Louisiana that have been passed to protect the unborn are enforceable, even if we have to go back to court," Landry said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill into law that strengthened the 2006 trigger law that went into effect Friday. The new law increases the penalties abortion providers face: prison terms range from one to 10 years and $10,000 to $100,000 in fines.

Criminal charges cannot be brought against a woman who receives an abortion. There are no exceptions for rape or incest, only when the mother's life is in danger.

Edwards also recently signed into law legislation that makes it illegal for anyone to send abortion pills by mail to Louisiana residents. Those who do face one to five years in prison and fines up to $50,000.