Wellspring Health Access, Wyoming’s only provider of procedural and medication abortion services, has refiled its lawsuit against the state in Teton County District Court after initially filing in Natrona County.
The clinic, located in Casper, is challenging two recently passed state laws—House Bill 42 and House Bill 64—that impose new restrictions on abortion access.
Wellspring originally filed the lawsuit on February 28, 2025, but after nearly two weeks without a response from the Natrona County Court, the clinic withdrew its case and refiled it in Teton County.
House Bill 42, signed into law by Governor Mark Gordon, requires abortion clinics providing surgical procedures to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers. It also mandates that doctors performing abortions must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 10 miles of the clinic.
House Bill 64, which was vetoed by Governor Gordon but later overridden by the Wyoming Legislature, requires patients seeking medication abortion to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound at least 48 hours before receiving abortion pills.
Due to these new restrictions, Wellspring temporarily halted patient services, including procedural abortions and other reproductive healthcare, citing the need to ensure compliance with the law. In just one week of closure, the clinic reported turning away 77 patients, 20% of whom were from out of state.
Wellspring’s decision to refile in Teton County comes after Judge Melissa Owens ruled in 2023 that Wyoming’s abortion bans violated the state constitution, which protects the right to make personal healthcare decisions. Given the legal precedent set in that district, clinic representatives believe Teton County may be a more suitable venue for their case.
“Time is of the essence,” said Julie Burkhart, Wellspring’s founder and president. “We’re heartbroken to have to turn patients away, and we’re doing everything we can to challenge these restrictions in court.”
Despite legal challenges, abortion—including both medication and procedural abortion—remains legal in Wyoming. However, the ongoing legal battles and new legislative measures continue to impact access to reproductive healthcare in the state.
For now, Wellspring Health Access awaits further court proceedings as it seeks to block enforcement of the new laws.
With input from Wyo File, Oil City News, and Wyoming Public Media.
