Missouri, Arizona Abortion Access Battles Intensify Amid Legal, Legislative Actions

Missouri voters approved Constitutional Amendment 3 in 2024, securing the right to abortion until fetal viability, but the state legislature is now advancing a Republican-backed proposal to repeal these protections and potentially ban most abortions again, with a public vote expected in 2026. The new proposal includes exceptions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, and limited early pregnancy cases of rape or incest, and would impose stricter regulations on abortion providers and parental consent requirements. Advocates like the Missouri Abortion Fund emphasize that legal rights do not guarantee access due to financial barriers, as private insurance and Medicaid do not cover abortion costs in Missouri. Meanwhile, in Arizona, doctors have filed a lawsuit arguing that state laws restricting abortion access and mailing abortion-inducing drugs violate a recent constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights until fetal viability. These developments illustrate ongoing national tensions between voters affirming abortion rights and legislators seeking to restrict them, highlighting challenges in ensuring both legal protections and practical access to reproductive healthcare.