Kansas Abortion Laws (Constitutional Protections)

Summary

Unlike its neighboring states, abortion remains legal in Kansas up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. In 2022, Kansas voters famously rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the state legislature to ban it.

Rights & Rules

01.
Abortion is legally permitted in Kansas up to 22 weeks from the patient's last menstrual period.
02.
The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that the state constitution protects the right to bodily autonomy, which includes the right to an abortion.
03.
You must undergo state-directed counseling and wait 24 hours before the procedure can be performed.
04.
Minors (under 18) must have the consent of at least one parent or obtain a waiver from a judge (judicial bypass).

Penalties

01.
Performing an abortion after the 22-week limit is a crime, except in cases where it is necessary to save the mother's life or prevent substantial physical impairment.

Verified Citations

Kansas Supreme Court Ruling (Hodes & Nauser v. Schmidt, 2019)

Source

"We conclude the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights protects all Kansans' right to personal autonomy, which includes the right to control one's own body, to assert bodily integrity, and to decide whether to continue a pregnancy."