In the Aftermath of Roe Being Overturned, Michigan Senate Democrats Remain Committed to Upholding Michiganders’ Interests, Reproductive Rights and Abortion Access in Michigan
On the 51st anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade — which safeguarded Americans’ constitutional right to abortion care — Michigan Senate Democrats reflect on the legislative advancements made in Michigan following the dangerous decision to overturn it.
In June 2022, the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturned Roe v. Wade, dismantling five decades of legal precedent and ending guaranteed access to safe and legal abortions across all states. This drastic change had immediate consequences for states like Michigan, where pre-1973 laws restricting abortion access automatically came into effect.
In response, Michigan advocates for reproductive freedom took action to secure abortion access in the state and placed Proposal 3 on the November 2022 ballot. This proposal not only aimed to nullify the archaic 1931 law banning abortions in Michigan but also included a constitutional amendment to firmly establish the right to reproductive health care, including abortion, within Michigan’s constitution.
Michigan Senate Democrats join community members to protest the overturning of Roe v. Wade and advocate for reproductive rights.
In Nov. 2022, Michiganders sent a message loud and clear that the right of an individual to make their own health care decisions is up to them, and only them. We saw this in both electing folks who support reproductive freedom, and the passage of Proposal 3. Nearly 2.5 million Michigan voters voted in support of Proposal 3.
In response to this overwhelming support, and with the new Democratic majority that voters also delivered, Senate Democrats acted swiftly to repeal the state’s archaic 1931 abortion ban. And our Majority for the People continued the people’s work by passing the Reproductive Health Act (RHA), a legislative package that further aligns Michigan’s laws with the newly established reproductive health protections in the state constitution.
Senator Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) join Governor Gretchen Whitmer on the Senate floor as she signs the final bill of the Reproductive Health Act.
The RHA addresses medically unnecessary regulations exclusive to abortion care, including stringent building requirements unrelated to patient care. It also eliminates reporting requirements and administrative burdens not imposed on other healthcare providers. These longstanding restrictions in Michigan’s laws have historically hindered the affirmation of everyone’s right to reproductive freedom.
Supported by many stakeholders, medical experts and reproductive health advocates, RHA builds on earlier iterations, incorporating feedback from constituents and reflecting diverse community perspectives.
Michigan Senate Democrats remain committed to championing women’s reproductive and health rights in the state, continuing the fight for a secure and inclusive future.
Read more from the Michigan Senate Democrats at SenateDems.com/press.