The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Georgia, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit today challenging a new Georgia law banning abortion care as early as six weeks into pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. This law would practically eliminate abortion care in the state and impose an unconstitutional ban on abortion.

The federal lawsuit, brought on behalf of reproductive justice advocates, health care providers, and their patients, seeks immediate relief to prevent enforcement of Georgia’s abortion ban before the January 1, 2020 effective date. The Georgia Legislature passed House Bill 481 (H.B. 481) on March 29, 2019, and the governor signed the bill into law on May 7, 2019.

In their lawsuit, plaintiffs argue that HB 481 bans practically all abortions in the state and disproportionately affects people of color, people struggling financially, and rural Georgians, who are least able to access medical care. Georgians face some of the highest rates of maternal and infant deaths in the nation, especially among Black Georgians.

Georgia is one of several states that have passed laws banning abortion this year, representing an unprecedented surge of legislation designed to initiate a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade. 

Alabama passed a near total ban; Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, and Georgia passed six-week bans; Missouri passed an eight-week ban; and Utah and Arkansas passed 18-week bans. None of these bans have gone into effect. Some have been temporarily blocked by a court and others are being challenged before their effective dates. Abortion care is still legal in all 50 states.