Reproductive Equity Now Statement Ahead of Connecticut Public Hearing on Protecting Emergency Access to Abortion Care
SB 7 affirms the right to emergency pregnancy-related care amidst federal attacks
HARTFORD (March 24, 2025) – Reproductive Equity Now’s Connecticut State Director Liz Gustafson released the following statement ahead of today’s public hearing in the Public Health Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly on S.B. 7, legislation that would secure, at the state level, protections enumerated in the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), such as emergency abortion care. This legislation would also ensure Connecticut protects patients' ability to access emergency abortion care regardless of whether or not EMTALA is weakened by the federal government, and protects providers in Connecticut at all health care institutions who share information with patients or refer them for sexual and reproductive health care without fear of discipline from their employer.
“To protect Connecticut’s longstanding legacy of affirming abortion access, the Nutmeg State must take proactive measures to combat potential moves by the Trump Administration to curb abortion access at the federal level and explicitly protect access to emergency abortion care,” said Liz Gustafson, Connecticut State Director for Reproductive Equity Now. “Nutmeggers must know they can access emergency pregnancy-related care, including abortion care, when they experience life- or health-threatening pregnancy complications, regardless of their ability to pay at the time of treatment. Amidst uncertainty at the federal policy level, S.B. 7 would protect patients seeking emergency care, and codify the requirement and responsibility of emergency departments across our state to provide emergency pregnancy-related care. It also makes clear that no provider at any institution fears discipline for simply doing their job.”
EMTALA is the federal law that requires hospital emergency rooms to provide life-saving and stabilizing care, including abortions. Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced that they would be dropping the Biden administration’s 2024 lawsuit against the state of Idaho, which challenged the state’s abortion ban because it violated the EMTALA.
Last month, Reproductive Equity Now announced its legislative agenda for the 2025 Connecticut legislative session, which included affirming the right to emergency pregnancy-related care amidst federal attacks, as well as expanding access to abortion care throughout pregnancy and bolstering shield protections for abortion providers. Reproductive Equity Now’s 2024 legislative priorities also included provisions of SB 7 as reflected in last session’s HB 5424.
In addition to S.B. 7, today Connecticut’s Judiciary Committee is holding a public hearing on H.B. 7135, a proposal to strengthen Connecticut’s shield law to ensure Connecticut's abortion and gender-affirming care providers are protected from hostile out-of-state prosecution when providing care via telehealth.
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