07/20/2023
Today, July 20th, marks one year since a federal appeals court allowed House Bill 481 (HB 481), a Georgia law banning abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, to go into effect. HB 481 and a surge of hyper-restrictive or total abortion bans went into effect across the U.S. Southeast after the SCOTUS’ decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade in late June 2022. As the Southeast's leading reproductive health research center, RISE has worked with our network of stakeholders to produce high-quality research on the effects of abortion bans.
Study findings like our March 2023 JAMA Network Open study found that 9-in-10 abortions in Georgia are likely banned under HB 481, affecting Black individuals, young people, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds even more. In addition to our research, we participated in community and legislative events hosted by our community partners for the public, policymakers, advocates, students, and others to explore the ban's consequences for Georgians.
As we strive for reproductive health and equity for people in the U.S. Southeast, RISE will remain dedicated to fostering our collaborative network of partnerships, conducting rigorous research, and ensuring public access to our work. For details on these efforts, please read below.