Constitutional amendments are an extreme way to change laws in a state. In fact, many states do not allow for these citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. Of the 50 states, 10 states have an amendment on the ballot. Many of these states require only a 50% +1 majority for these amendments to pass, while others require the ballot measure to receive at least 60%. With this in mind, pro-abortion activists are targeting otherwise pro-life states like South Dakota and Florida, because they believe they can get a simple majority of voters to go along with their ambiguous amendments.
Over the next year, we are likely to see the initiatives become more and more aggressive in their approach. All of these amendments are saturated in language that is obscure and misleading. Discover the red flags to look for to equip you, your organization, and your family this Fall. You can find the details for each of these upcoming ballot initiatives below. As the coalitions to support or counter these amendments form, we will be adding more information so that you can stay informed. You can also find a full list of the upcoming issues on Ballotpedia here.
ARIZONA | COLORADO | FLORIDA | MARYLAND | MISSOURI | MONTANA | NEBRASKA | NEW YORK | NEVADA |
SOUTH DAKOTA | PENDING
On the Ballot in 2024
ARIZONA
Amendment: Arizona Proposition 139, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
Key points:
This amendment would establish abortion as a "fundamental right" and permit abortions up to viability, and cannot be interfered with unless there's a compelling state interest. While "viability" and "state interest" are defined in the amendment, it's unclear who would be permitted to determine viability, and it would abolish the state's current abortion that permits abortion up to 15 weeks.
Next steps:
• Share this page with your community and supporters
• Contact your state's coalition for more:
Arizona Life Coalition
4633 N 54th St
Phoenix, AZ 85018
George Khalaf
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
602-730-5004
Resources:
• www.itgoestoofar.com
• www.azpolicy.org
• www.aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/
• AbortionBallot.com
COLORADO
55% supermajority is required.
Amendment: Colorado Right to Abortion Initiative
Key points:
This would enshrine abortion in the state's constitution as a legal right, to include medical insurance coverage. Currently, Colorado has no time restrictions on abortion. Allowing abortion to be covered under government-issued insurance programs would mean that taxpayers would help fund abortion procedures.
Next steps:
• Share this page with your community and supporters
• Contact your state's coalition for more:
Colorado Pregnancy Care Alliance
Rich Bennett
https://co-pca.org
https://
Resource:
• www.righttoknowco.com
• www.aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/
FLORIDA
60% supermajority is required.
Amendment: Florida Prohibit Laws Restricting Abortion Initiative
Key points:
The deceptive language in this amendment would enshrine abortion into the state's constitution while leaving the terms "viability" and "healthcare provider" undefined. Included is another exception to permit abortions for the woman's health, yet it fails to explain the parameters of how a "healthcare provider" can make that determination. Guised as an initiative to limit government interference, this amendment leaves women even more vulnerable and without adequate medical care.
Next steps:
• Know the Truth about Amendment 4
• Educate yourself on the language within
• AbortionBallot.com
• Share this page with your community and supporters
• Contact your state's coalitions for more:
Florida Pregnancy Care Network
1424 Piedmont Dr E
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Rita Gigliano
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
850-656-6245
Florida Baptist Children's Homes
1015 Sikes Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33815
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pregnancy and Family Resource Alliance (PAFRA)
1910 East Bay Dr
Largo, FL 33771
Darla Huddleston
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
727-451-6977
Resources:
• https://apologetics.org/know-the-truth-download/
• https://votenoon4florida.com/
• https://keepfloridaprolife.org/
• www.aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/
MARYLAND
Amendment: Maryland Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment
Key points:
This proposed amendment would legalize abortion up to birth by adding a new article to the state's Declaration of Rights. In its attempt to preserve "an individual's rights to liberty and equality," it fails to include the same rights for the lives of the unborn.
Next steps:
• Share this page with your community and supporters
• Contact your state's coalitions for more:
Pregnancy Clinic Ministry
934 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
Pamela Palumbo
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
410-431-5000
Resources:
• www.aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/
MISSOURI
Amendment: Missouri Amendment 3, Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative (2024)
Key points:
Another amendment using the deceptive text "reproductive freedom," would permit abortion up to viability, with a request of the state to regulate abortions from viability up to birth. Disguised as women's "healthcare," the Amendment's broad language is a stark example of Big- Abortion's extreme agenda and practices. This Amendment would leave women and children more vulnerable to abuse than ever before.
Next steps:
• Share this page with your community and supporters
• Contact your state's coalition for more:
Alliance for Life
487 SW Ward Rd
Lees Summit, MO 64081
Marsha Middleton
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
816-806-4168
Resources:
• www.aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/
• AbortionBallot.com
• www.mo3facts.com
MONTANA
Amendment: Montana CI-128, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
Key points:
This amendment would make abortion an "explicit constitutional right," permitting abortions up to birth with government regulation from the point of viability. It would also protect women who have abortions from any ramifications, including anyone who facilitated her having an abortion. That means that people complicit in pressuring, coercing, or forcing her to abort her baby would be legally protected by law.
Next steps:
• Share this page with your community and supporters
• Contact your state's coalition for more:
Women's Health Network
1005 Partridge Pl #1
Helena, MT 59602
Tracey Ullrey
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
406-422-1011
Resource:
• www.montanafamily.org/call_to_action/
• www.aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/
• Abortionballot.com/
NEBRASKA
Amendment: Nebraska Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
Key points:
This proposed Amendment would permit abortion up to viability—a far move from its current 12-week law. While "viability" is defined, the patient's "healthcare practitioners"—an undefined term—must determine viability with "significant probability," another term with a loophole for abortion providers.
Next steps:
• Share this page with your community and supporters
• Contact your state's coalition for more:
Nebraska Pregnancy Care Alliance
Jennifer A. Gutierrez, MA
CEO
(402) 499-2401
Resources:
• www.aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/
• Abortionballot.com/
NEW YORK
Amendment: New York Equal Protection of Law Amendment
Key points:
Perhaps the most deceptive in its language, the NY Equal Protection of Law Amendment aims at eradicating discrimination while simultaneously including reproductive health autonomy. The latter inclusion means that there would be no exceptions or time restrictions for abortion.
Next steps:
• Share this page with your community and supporters
• Contact your state's coalitions for more:
The New York State Coalition for Life (formerly known as the Pregnancy Care Conference)
Kathy Jerman
https://www.nyscoalitionforlife.com
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Resources:
• www.aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/
NEVADA
Amendment: Nevada Right to Abortion Initiative
Key points:
This proposed amendment would permit abortion up to viability or the health of the mother. While it defines viability as "the point of pregnancy when 'there is a significant likelihood of the fetus' sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures...'" this is a loose definition at best. The ambiguous definition of the term "viability" inadvertently places the life of an unborn child in the hands of a doctor's opinion.
Next steps:
• Share this page with your community and supporters
Resources:
• www.aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/
• Abortionballot.com/
SOUTH DAKOTA
Amendment: Constitutional Amendment G - Right to Abortion Initiative
Key points:
This proposed amendment would enshrine abortion in the state's constitution so that there are no regulations against abortion in the entire first trimester and an exception for abortion when a woman's health is at risk in the second trimester. In the third trimester, an abortion decision is the judgment of a "medical professional." This vague language leaves abortion permissible up to birth as long as a medical professional permits.
Next steps:
• Share this page with your community and supporters
• Contact Life Defense Fund to learn more:
Life Defense Fund
- LDF has an active campaign against Amendment G!
Resource:
• www.familyheritagealliance.org/
• www.aul.org/law-and-policy/state-spotlight/
• Abortionballot.com/
Pending Ballot Measures
Tracking Legislation Across the Pro-Life Spectrum in all 50 States - American's United for Life
