Abortion providers send patients out of Missouri after ban is effectively reinstated
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Missourians seeking abortions are fleeing to Kansas or Illinois after a court judgment essentially reinstated the state’s abortion ban.
Since the Missouri Supreme Court decided a Jackson County judge’s ruling was not efficient, abortions are effectively banned in Missouri again unless the lower court can rule again. Abortion providers in and out of Missouri have noted that patients are going out of the state to receive care just one day later.
After the Dobbs decision, Missouri was the first state to ban abortion. In November 2024, Missouri voters legalized abortion when 52% of them voted “yes” on Amendment 3.
Amendment 3 was put on the ballot by initiative petition, having to receive thousands of signatures from people all over Missouri. It faced several legal challenges along the way, going all the way to the state’s Supreme Court before the matter was settled.
A Jackson County Judge stopped Missouri’s licensing requirements for abortion providers, saying they were unfairly restrictive and singled out abortion providers in February. Shortly after, Planned Parenthood started offering abortions at several locations.
Tuesday, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the legal reasoning behind the Jackson County ruling was not sufficient, which puts all the abortion regulations back into effect.
When abortion was banned in Missouri after the Dobbs decision but before Amendment 3, data from the Guttmacher Institute showed about 10,000 Missourians traveled to Kansas or Illinois each year to receive abortions.
Rianne Hawkins with Planned Parenthood Great Rivers said the clinic is determined to continue providing abortions, even if it can’t do so in Missouri.
“We’re working really hard to make sure that all the patients that need that care are able to receive that abortion care, whether they have to go to Kansas or Illinois,” Hawkins said.
Hope Clinic in southern Illinois said about 40% of its out-of-state patients since Roe v. Wade was overturned are from Missouri. Co-owner Julie Burkhart said she will continue to work with Missouri abortion clinics during this uncertain time.
“We’ve seen firsthand how they struggle to deal with rising travel costs and logistical barriers like taking time off work and finding childcare. Beyond making it harder for people to access abortion, restrictions also create fear and stigma around this safe, common form of reproductive health care.”
The Jackson County judge can reverse the decision with another ruling. Planned Parenthood said its legal team has already filed a response to Tuesday’s ruling.
Meanwhile, anti-abortion advocates have already turned their attention to the next battle. Another vote on abortion will take place after lawmakers ed a bill to put abortion back on the ballot. Anti-abortion advocates like Brian Westbrook with Coalition Life said Amendment 3 was misleading, and this new measure will clear things up.
“There’s a lot of work being done behind the scenes,” Westbrook said. “Rallying the troops, getting synergy around this ballot initiative.”
Under the bill ed by the Missouri General Assembly, abortion will be on the ballot again in November 2026.
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