Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed a proclamation on January 17, formally certifying the state’s constitutional amendment that enshrines abortion as a fundamental right after voters overwhelmingly supported an abortion rights ballot initiative last November.
“Maryland made a clear choice,” Lieutenant Gov. Aruna Miller said in a statement. “I’m proud of our state for valuing self-determination and freedom, and for protecting future generations of women with a constitutional right to choose.”
The amendment, known as the “Reproductive Freedom Amendment,” received strong support, passing with over 74 percent of the vote, and affirms the right to reproductive freedoms, including the “ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end one’s own pregnancy.”
“Since day one of my administration, I have made clear my support for a woman’s right to choose,” Moore said in a statement. “In November, Marylanders voted overwhelmingly in favor of aligning Maryland’s constitution with our values. This amendment ensures that future generations of Marylanders will have the same reproductive rights Marylanders have today — no matter who is in office.”
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Maryland emerged as a leader in safeguarding reproductive rights. In his first year of office, Moore enacted a series of measures to strengthen reproductive rights, including signing a landmark legislative package, stockpiling reproductive health medications, and expanding contraceptive access.
In February 2024, Moore announced $15.6 million in funding to strengthen protections for reproductive freedoms. Of this amount, $10.6 million was allocated to the University of Maryland, Baltimore, to support the state’s Abortion Care Clinical Training Program and around $5 million was designated to increase Medicaid reimbursements for providers offering abortion care.
“Today is truly a historical day for Marylanders who care deeply about constitutional protections for bodily autonomy,” said Democratic Senate President Bill Ferguson. “Last year, Marylanders overwhelmingly affirmed an individual right to liberty and equality contains the fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Enshrining this freedom in the Maryland Constitution is the right thing to do now and for future generations.”
While Maryland has honored the will of its voters by enshrining the right to abortion in its constitution, other states have struggled to achieve similar outcomes despite the passage of abortion rights ballot initiatives in November.
For example, in Missouri, where no operational abortion clinics currently exist, two Planned Parenthood providers filed a lawsuit seeking to restore abortion access following the passage of Amendment 3, the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative.
“Missourians have spoken and we’re ready to deliver,” Emily Wales, president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a November statement. “There are many restrictions to challenge before access can be fully realized, but we’re proud to continue this fight to make sure everyone in this state can have the safe, legal abortion care they deserve. And soon, when Missourians ask where they can get care, we’ll have a simple answer: right here at home.”
Similarly, in Arizona, where voters also approved a measure to reinstate abortion access in November, the Center for Reproductive Rights and its partners had to file a lawsuit to ensure the restoration of the right to an abortion in the state. Clinics are currently awaiting a court decision to determine when they can resume offering abortion care.
“Arizonans voted overwhelmingly to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution,” Nancy Northup, the Center’s president and CEO, said in a statement in December. “We are going to court to challenge the state’s 15-week abortion ban and ensure that these constitutional rights are vindicated.”
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