Pro-life trigger laws take effect in three states

Tennessee, Texas, and Idaho enacted trigger laws set to go into place 30 days after the Supreme Court issued a judgment in the case that overturned Roe v. Wade. The laws will protect babies in every case except to save the life of the mother. They also make it a felony to perform an abortion but do not penalize the mother. In Idaho, a judge ruled that hospitals participating in Medicare will still have to provide abortions if the mother’s life or health is at risk in accordance with guidance from Congress. 

Didn’t North Dakota also have a trigger law? North Dakota’s law was supposed to go into effect right after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, but it has been held up by injunctions as the state’s lone abortion facility fights back. The state used to protect babies after 22 weeks, but the new law would protect babies in every case except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest. The exceptions would have to be proved in court to prevent a doctor who performed an abortion from being charged with a felony. 

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in Vitals on Republicans’ differing views on abortion.