Abhortion · State legal snapshot
Legal at all stages; statutorily protected. Abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy in the District of Columbia, codified by statute with no gestational limit, though Congress retains the…
§ I · Gestational limit
│ No ban; right affirmatively codified · D.C. Code § 7-2086.01
§ II · Restriction inventory — 15 checked, 0 in force
●Gestational banNone
●In-person visitsNone
●Method-specific banNone (state)
●Physician-only lawNone
●Parental involvementNone
●Telehealth prescribing banNone
●Waiting periodNone
●Spousal consent or noticeNone
●Abortion trafficking lawNone
●Scripted counselingNone
●Civil bounty (SB8-style)None
●Private insurance restrictionNone
●Ultrasound requirementNone
●Pill-mailing banNone
●Self-managed abortion crimeNone
§ III · Access
Criminal exposure
Procedure
Coverage & interstate
Available now
Yes
Pregnant person
Expressly exempt
Waiting period
0 hours
Medicaid
Hyde only
Medication · telehealth
Legal · telehealth allowed
Self-managed
Not a crime
Compelled visits
0 in person
Private insurance
No state restriction
Who may perform
Physicians & APCs
Provider max penalty
None
Minors
No involvement law
Shield state
Yes
Mailing pills
Not banned
Fetal homicide law
None
Judicial bypass
No parental law
Major pending change
Yes · see p. 2
✓ Abolition-aligned — forbids abortion or imposes liability◐ Partial — a hurdle, an enjoined law, or a carve-out● No restriction○ Unclear or not applicable
§ IV · Why it is legal — governing authorities
Government Noninterference in Reproductive Health Decisions, D.C. Code § 7-2086.01 — The foundational D.C.
■Human Rights Sanctuary — Government Nonparticipation, D.C. Code § 2-1461.01 — Core shield law prohibiting D.C.
■Human Rights Sanctuary — Private Right of Action (Clawback), D.C. Code § 2-1461.02 — Allows D.C.
“The District shall recognize the right of every individual who becomes pregnant to decide whether to carry a pregnancy to term, to give birth, or to have an abortion.”— D.C. Code § 7-2086.01(b)
Fetal personhood — how the contradiction is walled off
● D.C. Code § 7-2086.01(b)
D.C. has no statute or constitutional provision defining an unborn child as a 'person,' 'human being,' or 'child' for purposes of criminal or civil law beyond the…
No statutory fetal personhood
→
● Exempt · pregnant woman
Expressly exempt from all penalty
● Carved out · abortion
Abortion is not chargeable under the homicide statutes.
● Not reached · third parties
No fetal homicide statute
D.C. law presents a notable internal tension between civil and criminal/regulatory treatment of the fetus. On the civil side, the D.C. Wrongful death: Viable fetus is a 'person' for wrongful death.
§ V · Criminal exposure by actor
●
Pregnant woman
Expressly exempt from all penalty
●
Physician
No criminal exposure; protected
●
Non-physician prescriber
Protected; no criminal exposure
●
Helpers · funds
Protected; no criminal exposure
●
Travel helpers
Protected; no travel restrictions
●
Civil bounty
No civil bounty law
✓ the actor faces criminal or civil exposure under state law · ● no exposure · ○ unclear or theoretical
Penalties on the books — top 5
§ VI · How the law got here ● court ■ statute ◆ executive / agency
D.C. Law 23-90 (Strengthening Reproductive Health Protections Amendment Act of 2020) took effect, codifying in D.C.
23 Feb 2023■D.C.
23 Feb 2023■D.C.
3 Dec 2025◆Rep. Andrew Clyde (GA-09) introduced the D.C.
§ VII · Exceptions matrix
Named in law: ◐ the exception is written into the ban · ✓ no such exception · ● no ban for an exception to operate against. Verified (neutral): ✓ quoted text confirmed at source · ◐ semi-verified · ○ verify before publication · — not applicable.
§ VIII · Shield law & interstate
● Shield state
Strong shield state
● Travel unrestricted
Travel out fully lawful; no restriction
● Telehealth prescribing allowed
Telehealth permitted; no in-state restriction
● Pill mailing not banned
Protected under current law
● Funding help protected
Protected; no funding prohibition
● Providing information
Protected; no information liability
Interstate postureD.C. is a robust shield jurisdiction: its laws prohibit government cooperation with out-of-state investigations, block subpoenas, protect provider licenses, and create a clawback right of action…
§ IX · Who pays
Hyde Amendment only; Dornan rider
Life
Hyde · federal
Rape
Hyde · federal
Incest
Hyde · federal
Beyond Hyde
Not covered
Mandatory coverage without cost-sharing
All exchange plans cover abortion
◐No defunding; no affirmative state funding
§ X · Pending changes status and effect as recorded — no forecast
Louisiana v. FDA (mifepristone litigation)Fifth Circuit ordered reinstatement of in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone; Supreme Court…
If the Fifth Circuit order ultimately takes effect, in-person dispensing would be required for mifepristone nationwide, including in D.C., eliminating mail-order and…
LitigationFlorida and Texas v. FDA (mifepristone approval challenge)Filed December 2025 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Challenges FDA's original 2000…
If successful, could remove mifepristone from the U.S. market entirely, ending medication abortion nationwide — including in D.C.
LegislationD.C. Shield Law Repeal Act (federal)Introduced Dec. 3, 2025, by Rep. Andrew Clyde (GA-09); referred to committee. Has not been enacted.
Would nullify D.C. Law 24-257 (Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022), eliminating D.C.'s shield protections and exposing D.C.-based providers, patients, and…
§ XI · Key authorities ● case ■ statute ◆ agency
■Government Noninterference in Reproductive Health… D.C. Code § 7-2086.01
■Human Rights Sanctuary — Government Nonparticipation D.C. Code § 2-1461.01
■Human Rights Sanctuary — Private Right of Action… D.C. Code § 2-1461.02
■Private Insurance Abortion Coverage Mandate D.C. Code § 31-3834.03a
■Clinic Access Protection D.C. Code § 22-1314.02
■Licensing Board Shield for Reproductive Health Care D.C. Code § 3-1205.14(e-1)
●Greater Southeast Community Hospital v. Williams 482 A.2d 394 (D.C. 1984)
■D.C. Law 23-90 (Strengthening Reproductive Health… D.C. Law 23-90 (2020)
■D.C. Law 24-254 (Enhancing Reproductive Health… D.C. Law 24-254 (2023)
■D.C. Law 24-257 (Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act) D.C. Law 24-257 (2023)
◆Minor Consent for Abortion D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 22-B, § 600.7
■Home Rule Act — Congressional Review D.C. Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)