Vermont Amends Law, Ends Suit Against Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers

In Vermont, a 2023 law restricting pro-life pregnancy centers from advertising and offering certain services was amended following legal challenges from the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), Aspire Now, and Branches Pregnancy Resource Center, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). The original law targeted these centers by classifying their advertising as potentially misleading because they do not provide or refer for abortions, while similar information from abortion providers was not subject to the law. After a lawsuit was filed, Vermont lawmakers revised the bill to remove provisions that specifically targeted pro-life centers, allowing them to continue providing life-affirming support without fear of government penalties. The legal dispute was dismissed without prejudice in May 2024, signaling a potential reopening but reflecting the state's concession to the centers' free speech claims. This case reflects a broader trend of courts striking down state efforts to regulate speech of pro-life pregnancy centers, emphasizing constitutional protections. Both ADF and Vermont officials have not disclosed all details of the amendments, but the changes effectively eliminate the law's discriminatory impact on faith-based pregnancy centers.