Abhortion · State legal snapshot
Constitutionally protected to viability. Ohio's constitution protects abortion up to fetal viability (≈22-24 weeks LMP), with post-viability abortion permitted to protect the patient's life…
§ I · Gestational limit
│ Legal to viability ≈22-24 wks LMP · enjoined · measured from LMP · Ohio Const. art. I, § 22(B)
§ II · Restriction inventory — 15 checked, 4 in force
◐22-week ban · LMPEnjoined
●In-person visitsNone
◐Method ban · D&E · D&XIn force
◐Physician-only lawIn force
◐One-parent consentIn force
○Telehealth prescribing banUnclear
●Waiting periodNone
●Spousal consent or noticeNone
●Abortion trafficking lawNone
●Scripted counselingNone
●Civil bounty (SB8-style)None
✓Private insurance restrictionIn force
●Ultrasound requirementNone
○Pill-mailing banUnclear
○Self-managed abortion crimeUnclear
§ III · Access
Criminal exposure
Procedure
Coverage & interstate
Available now
Yes
Pregnant person
Expressly exempt
Waiting period
0 hours
Medicaid
Hyde only
Medication · telehealth
Regulated separately · telehealth unclear
Self-managed
Unclear
Compelled visits
0 in person
Private insurance
Restricted
Who may perform
Physicians only
Provider max penalty
Felony 4th degree, 6-18 months;…
Minors
One-parent consent
Shield state
No
Mailing pills
Unclear
Fetal homicide law
Yes · abortion carved out
Judicial bypass
Available
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
Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment, Ohio Const. art. I, § 22 — The supreme law governing abortion in Ohio; adopted November 2023, self-executing,…
■Heartbeat ban (permanently enjoined), Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.195 — The 2019 six-week abortion ban; permanently enjoined October 2024 as unconstitutional…
■20-week post-fertilization ban, Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.201 — Bans abortion at 20 weeks post-fertilization with life/health exceptions; on the books…
“Every individual has a right to make and carry out one's own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on: contraception; fertility treatment; continuing one's own pregnancy; miscarriage care; and…”— Ohio Const. art. I, § 22
Fetal personhood — how the contradiction is walled off
✓ Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.16(L)
“'Unborn child' means an individual organism of the species homo sapiens from fertilization until live birth.”
Fetal personhood language present
→
● Exempt · pregnant woman
Expressly exempt; low risk
● Carved out · abortion
Abortion is not chargeable under the homicide statutes.
✓ Reached · third parties
Fetal homicide from fertilization
Ohio law embodies a profound and explicit internal contradiction on fetal personhood. Wrongful death: Action lies for viable fetus.
§ V · Criminal exposure by actor
●
Pregnant woman
Expressly exempt; low risk
✓
Physician
Felony exposure; license revocation
✓
Non-physician prescriber
Felony exposure for non-physicians
○
Helpers · funds
Unclear; constitutional shield
●
Travel helpers
Not criminalized
●
Civil bounty
No SB8-style 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
Ohio Supreme Court dismisses the state's appeal of the preliminary injunction due to the change in law — the passage…
29 Mar 2024●ACLU and Planned Parenthood file Preterm-Cleveland v.
23 Aug 2024●Franklin County Court of Common Pleas preliminarily enjoins Ohio's 24-hour waiting period and mandatory in-person…
29 Aug 2024●Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas grants second preliminary injunction blocking physician-only restriction for…
24 Oct 2024●Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas permanently strikes down Ohio's six-week heartbeat ban as unconstitutional…
8 Jul 2025●Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas grants third preliminary injunction blocking further provisions that could…
7 Jan 2026●Ohio First District Court of Appeals affirms the permanent injunction of the heartbeat ban but reverses and remands…
25 Mar 2026■Ohio House of Representatives passes HB 347 (SHE WINS Act), which would reinstate a 24-hour waiting period for…
§ 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 · Interstate & helpers
✓ No shield law
No shield law; no cross-border targeting
● Travel unrestricted
Travel is lawful
○ Telehealth prescribing unclear
Telehealth ban preliminarily enjoined
○ Pill mailing unclear
Enjoined telehealth ban; no mailing statute
○ Funding help unclear
Not criminalized; constitutional shield
○ Providing information
Not criminalized; First Amendment protection
Interstate postureOhio has not enacted a shield law protecting providers or patients from out-of-state abortion investigations; nor does Ohio currently have laws targeting cross-border abortion activity.
§ IX · Who pays
Hyde-only coverage
Life
Hyde · federal
Rape
Hyde · federal
Incest
Hyde · federal
Beyond Hyde
Not covered
Restricted; rider required
ACA plans barred from abortion coverage
✓Defunds providers
§ X · Pending changes status and effect as recorded — no forecast
Preterm-Cleveland v. Yost (waiting period challenge — Franklin…Preliminary injunction in effect since August 23, 2024; discovery ongoing; dispositive motion briefing to…
If the court grants a permanent injunction, Ohio's 24-hour waiting period and mandatory counseling will be permanently struck down under the Reproductive Freedom…
LitigationPlanned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region v. Ohio Dept. of…Multiple preliminary injunctions in effect (2021, 2024, 2025); case proceeding on the merits in Hamilton…
If permanent injunctions are granted, APCs will be permanently authorized to provide medication abortion, telehealth prescribing will remain available, and the…
LitigationPreterm-Cleveland v. Yost (ancillary S.B. 23 provisions — on…On remand following First District Court of Appeals decision (2026-Ohio-23, Jan. 7, 2026); trial court to…
The trial court will determine the constitutionality of ancillary provisions including reporting requirements, informed consent provisions, and enforcement mechanisms.
LegislationOhio House Bill 347 — SHE WINS Act (136th General Assembly)Passed Ohio House (March 25, 2026); pending in Ohio Senate.
Would reinstate a 24-hour waiting period for abortion, requiring an in-person meeting at least 24 hours before the procedure. Would likely face immediate constitutional…
§ XI · Key authorities ● case ■ statute ◆ agency
■Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment Ohio Const. art. I, § 22
■Heartbeat ban (permanently enjoined) Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.195
■20-week post-fertilization ban Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.201
■Post-viability abortion ban Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.17
■Abortion definition Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.11
■Pregnant woman immunity Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.198
■Fetal homicide definition Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.09
■Medication abortion restrictions Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2919.123, 2919.124
■D and E and D and X method bans Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2919.15, 2919.151
■Down syndrome abortion ban Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.10
■Parental consent for minors Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.121
■Public funding restrictions Ohio Rev. Code § 9.04