Legislation passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives on February 3, 2026 would classify mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled perilous substances. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Republican-majority lawmakers have continued to focus on abortion drugs, proposing legislation to further restrict mifepristone and misoprostol. GOP lawmakers are advancing bills that would allow people to sue out-of-state abortion providers and manufacturers.
The measures emerging in Missouri, South Carolina and West Virginia mirror a law Texas passed last year allowing residents sue anyone involved in sending it abortion pills to their states.
Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats in other states — including those that restrict abortions — have joined forces to support laws that could make contraceptives easier to access.
Lawmakers in Georgia and Tennessee are considering bills that would allow pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives and require insurers to cover contraceptives for up to 12 months. Democratic strongholds like New York and Virginia have passed laws placing emergency contraceptive vending machines on certain college campuses and codifying the right to contraception.
Our reproductive rights reporting team will track the bills through bi-weekly summaries as sessions continue this winter and into the spring. Depending on the partisan makeup of a state’s legislature and other state government officials, some bills have a better chance of passing and becoming law than others.
Republican-led states attack mifepristone
West Virginia
Senate Bill 173: The bill would make it illegal to send abortion pills to West Virginia. Doctors could risk losing their medical licenses, and non-medical professionals could face three to 10 years in prison if they ship abortion drugs into the state. West Virginia Watch reported.
The bill exempts women who take abortion pills and doctors who prescribe abortion drugs for other reasons, such as to treat miscarriages. You could also sue the person or organization that sent abortion pills to West Virginia for damages of up to $10,000. According to Watch, an amendment from Republican Senator Eric Tarr would require those who sue to contact the attorney general.
Sponsor: Republican Senator Chris Rose
Status: In the Senate Judiciary Committee
Missouri
House Bill 2294: While the main focus of this bill is to require providers to care for babies when they are born after an abortion attempt, the measure would also allow people to sue those who support Missourians obtain abortion drugs. Missouri Independent reported.
Abortion is legal in Missouri until the fetus is viable after about 52% of voters approved it Change in reproductive rights in November 2024, but medical abortions are not possible in clinics due to long-standing restrictions which were the subject of a trial last month. The Republican-controlled Legislature also placed a measure on the ballot asking voters to decide whether to ban most abortions again.
Sponsor: Republican Rep. Holly Jones
Status: In the Senate after approval by the House of Representatives on January 29th
Iowa
Senate Studies Act 3115: An Iowa Senate subcommittee on Monday introduced a bill that would require in-person delivery of abortion drugs and force doctors to tell patients that it is possible to reverse the effects of mifepristone, which is false. Iowa Capital Shipping reported.
If the bill becomes law, providers would also be required to collect information about abortion complications caused by mifepristone and misoprostol. As of 2024, abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy have been banned in Iowa, except in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the pregnant person.
Sponsors: Republican Senators Jason Schultz and Cherielynn Westrich
Status: In the Senate Health and Human Services Committee
South Carolina
House Bill 4760: The South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill earlier this month that would classify abortion drugs as Schedule IV drugs, similar to Valium and Xanax. SC Daily Gazette reported. People who take the drugs without a prescription face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, but women who take the pills are exempt from prosecution.
Anyone who gives a woman abortion drugs without her knowledge could face life in prison, according to the bill initially stated that the sentence would be up to 10 years behind bars. The law would also allow prospective parents and other relatives to sue manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of abortion pills if taking the drug harms the mother or fetus.
Sponsor: Republican Rep. Weston Newton
Status: In the Senate Committee on Medical Affairs after approval by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, February 4
Increase in measures that would improve access to contraceptives
Georgia
House Bill 1138: This bill would allow pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives to adult patients. Georgia recorder reported on Monday. Patients under 18 could obtain contraceptives from pharmacists if they previously have a prescription from a doctor. Accordingly, 30 states and Washington, DC allow pharmacists to prescribe and advise patients on contraceptives KFF.
Sponsor: Republican Rep. Beth Camp
Status: In the House Health Committee
Tennessee
SB 0589/HB 0169: The bipartisan legislation would require private health insurance plans to cover a one-year supply of contraceptives. TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program, already provides a 12-month supply of contraceptives, according to a Tax note. The measure would take effect in July 2027 if it takes effect.
Sponsors: Democratic Senator Raumesh Akbari and Republican Representative Esther Helton-Haynes
Status: Approved by the House of Representatives on Monday, February 9, and by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on Tuesday, February 10
recent York
Senate Bills 1703, 8869, 2058: A trio of bills introduced in the New York Senate last month would expand access to birth control. It would allow pharmacists to inject Depo-Provera, a contraceptive shot given every three months. Pharmacists can already provide care other forms of contraception – Pills, patches and rings, but they cannot yet provide vaccinations.
A supplementary bill would ensure the preservation of pharmacists Refunds of health insurance for the provision of contraceptives. A third The invoice would require state and city universities to install emergency contraceptive vending machines on campus.
Sponsors: Democratic Senators Lea Webb and James Skoufis
Status: In the Assembly after the Senate approved all three in January
Virginia
Senate Bill 596: The Virginia Senate passed a bill on Tuesday, February 10, that would ensure that people in the Commonwealth have the right to receive and prescribe contraceptives. The legislation was advanced in previous sessions, but former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin wouldn’t sign it. With Democrats now holding triple power in the state, the legislation is likely to become law.
Sponsor: Democratic Rep. Marcia “Cia” Price
Status: In the House Health and Human Services Committee after Senate approval on February 10
This story was originally produced by News from the Stateswhich is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes West Virginia Watch, and is a 501c(3) public charity supported by grants and a coalition of donors.
