Shield Laws for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care: A State Law Guide
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022 and eliminated the federal constitutional right to abortion, many states enacted bans and further restrictions on abortion.
In response, states seeking to preserve and expand access to abortion have passed shield laws: legal protections for patients, health care providers, and people assisting in the provision of certain health care in states where that care is legal from the reach of states with civil, criminal, and professional consequences related to that care.
Currently, through legislation or executive order, 22 states and Washington, D.C. have shield law protections related to reproductive health care, and 18 states and Washington, D.C. have shield law protections related to gender-affirming health care. The extent and type of protections offered by each state’s shield laws vary. Legislatively-enacted shield laws in 8 states explicitly protect provision of care regardless of patient location, which includes telehealth provision.
“Shield Laws for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care: A State Law Guide” provides analysis of each state's shield laws. The map below shows which states have shield laws. Click on a shield law state to learn more about its specific protections for reproductive and gender-affirming health care. The State Law Guide was last updated in October 2025.
States with Shield Laws:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, DC
The protections offered by each state’s shield laws vary. Shield laws may include: (1) Protections for Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care Providers.
Key Data on State Shield Laws
| Type of Health Care | Number of States/Jurisdictions with Shield Laws |
|---|---|
| Reproductive Health Care | 22 states and Washington, D.C. |
| Gender-Affirming Health Care | 18 states and Washington, D.C. |