Governor Mark Gordon signed House Bill 42 – Regulation of Surgical Abortions into law on Thursday, enacting new regulations on abortion clinics across Wyoming.
The law, which takes effect immediately, requires facilities providing in-clinic abortions to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers and mandates that clinic doctors have admitting privileges at a hospital within 10 miles of the facility.
The legislation could significantly impact Wellspring Health Access in Casper, currently the only provider of in-clinic abortions in Wyoming. Wellspring, which has been involved in legal challenges against the state’s abortion restrictions, criticized the law as unconstitutional and indicated plans to challenge it in court.
“These regulations are not essential to providing abortions,” Wellspring stated in a recent social media post.
Julie Burkhart, the clinic’s founder, described the legislation as an effort to force them out of business, arguing it restricts healthcare access and increases costs.
Governor Gordon previously vetoed similar legislation due to a provision requiring mandatory transvaginal ultrasounds before taking abortion medication. That requirement is now in a separate bill still under consideration.
Supporters of House Bill 42, including its sponsor, Rep. Martha Lawley (R-Worland), argue that abortion remains legal in Wyoming and that additional regulations are necessary. The bill states that it should not be interpreted as recognizing abortion as a protected healthcare decision under Wyoming’s constitution.
This law comes amid ongoing legal battles over abortion rights in Wyoming. A Teton County judge ruled in November that the state’s abortion bans were unconstitutional. Wellspring has not yet confirmed whether it will challenge the new law on similar grounds.
With input from Wyo File, Buckrail, and Wyoming News Now.
