Wyoming is the next U.S. state to join in protecting pregnancy centers from being compelled to perform or refer for abortions.
Earlier this spring, the Wyoming legislature passed the Center Autonomy and Rights of Expression Act, also known as the CARE Act.
Governor Mark Gordon signed the act into law in March.
Legal non-profit Alliance for Defending Freedom (ADF) crafted the model legislation which has versions that have been introduced in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Montana.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelley vetoed the act in her state, which her legislature later overrode. Oklahoma’s legislation is advancing, while Montana passed its CARE Act last year.
ADF Senior Counsel Denice Burke explained the legislation in an email to Pregnancy Help News:
“HB003, the CARE Act protects Wyoming pregnancy centers from censorship and discrimination simply because they do not offer, refer for, or counsel in favor of abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, or contraception. This law is preventative in nature and keeps Wyoming pregnancy centers from being singled out for censorship or discriminatory treatment simply because of their pro-life principles. It protects their constitutionally guaranteed rights of free expression and free association—rights guaranteed by both the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions.”
Wyoming is home to 11 pregnancy centers. Patients and medical professionals from these locations testified in favor of the Act, promoting the services provided and the support received in these centers.
“During conversations with Wyomingites, it was made clear,” Burke said. “Wyoming is not Illinois, Michigan or New Jersey, and they don’t want to be. Wyoming pregnancy centers should not have to endure years of litigation to vindicate their constitutional rights.”
“The CARE Act helps ensure that pregnancy centers are not singled out for unconstitutional mandates simply because of their pro-life principles,” she added.
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Similar legislation was introduced at the federal level in March of last year.
The Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act also protects the rights of pregnancy centers and has yet to progress past the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Such legislation represents a key effort in protecting the pregnancy help movement and preserving pregnancy help organizations’ right to serve women and families.
Since the Supreme Court Dobbs ruling in 2022, abortion states and other pro-abortion government entities are challenging pregnancy help with proposed legislation and other legal and policy offensives.
Burke noted that this year 14 states have introduced anti-pregnancy center legislation compared to two states in 2021 pre-Dobbs.
“Since 2022, at least 26 state legislatures have introduced measures that would undermine pregnancy centers' autonomy and life-affirming work,” Burke said, “and six have enacted such measures.”
Currently the highest profile attack is not based on legislation but rather a targeted investigative probe of centers in New Jersey. Former Attorney General Matthew Platkin had demanded that First Choice disclose the names, phone numbers, addresses, and place of employment of many of its donors, plus up to 10 years of its internal confidential documents, according to ADF. First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Platkin is before the Supreme Court and a decision is expected by June.
Burke also referenced a recent case in Michigan where pro-life groups sued the state for compelling them to hire employees not in accord with their mission.
“Michigan was sued after amending its employment law to define ‘sex’ discrimination to include ‘the termination of a pregnancy,’” she said.
“Under the amended law, it is now illegal for pregnancy centers to recruit and hire only those employees who share their pro-life views,” Burke said.
Going further, she said, the law also requires pregnancy centers to offer abortion coverage in their health insurance plans, in direct conflict with their mission and values.
“The law clearly threatens pregnancy centers’ ability to advocate for their pro-life views and to serve women and families in need consistent with their beliefs,” said Burke said.
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In addition to assisting Wyoming lawmakers in drafting the CARE Act legislation ADF counsel testified in support of it.
“We strongly encourage other states to duplicate Wyoming’s proactive approach in protecting the critical work of pregnancy centers to ensure that women and families have the choice and opportunity to access the care, material support, and educational options they offer both now and, in the future,” Burke said.
The CARE Act is scheduled to go into effect July 1.
