As of July 2025, there are several red states that have passed laws or taken actions to restrict travel for abortions to other states, primarily focusing on aiding minors or through local ordinances. However, the legal landscape is complex and constantly evolving, with many of these restrictions facing legal challenges.
Here's a breakdown:
Idaho: Idaho has a law that prohibits adults from "recruiting, harboring, or transporting" a minor to obtain an abortion without parental consent, including out-of-state travel. This law went into effect in May 2023, and a federal appeals court partially reinstated it in December 2024 after it was temporarily blocked.
Tennessee: Tennessee has a similar law to Idaho's, which was blocked by a federal judge in September 2024, but the legal challenges are ongoing.
Texas: While Texas does not have a statewide law explicitly banning out-of-state travel for abortions, several local jurisdictions within Texas have passed "abortion travel ban" ordinances. These ordinances, often pushed by anti-abortion activists, aim to restrict the use of certain public roads to obtain an abortion. Violations in some of these ordinances can be enforced through lawsuits by private citizens. As of March 2025, at least 14 local jurisdictions in Texas have implemented such bans, including Cochran, Goliad, Lubbock, Dawson, and Mitchell counties. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has also taken steps to target out-of-state abortion providers.
Other states considering similar measures: States like Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Montana have considered or introduced bills similar to Idaho's "abortion trafficking" laws.
It's important to note:
No state currently outlaws traveling for an abortion for adults. The legal efforts are largely focused on those who assist others, particularly minors, in seeking out-of-state care.
Constitutional challenges: Legal experts argue that these efforts could violate the constitutional right to interstate travel.
"Shield laws" in blue states: In response to these restrictions, many "blue states" (states where abortion is legal) have enacted "shield laws" to protect abortion providers and those who assist with out-of-state abortion care from investigations and criminal prosecution from other states.
Therefore, while no red state has a blanket ban on an individual traveling to a blue state for an abortion, certain states have enacted laws or local ordinances that attempt to criminalize or restrict aspects of facilitating such travel, especially for minors.
