We are proud to unveil AUL’s 2020 State Legislative Sessions Report, the Annual Report on Government Affairs from America’s leader in life-affirming law and policy.
Every election year brings unexpected challenges, but 2020 has truly been a year like no other. While state lawmakers hit the ground running in January, pursuing dozens of life-affirming bills, efforts stalled in March when the COVID-19 global pandemic prematurely ended the legislative sessions in most states.
The biggest victory for Life is that the national abortion rate continues its downward trend, and it is now the lowest rate since 1973, when Roe v. Wade legalized abortion. According to Dr. Michael New, professor of social research and political science at the Catholic University of America and associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, there is a direct correlation between increasing the number of state pro-life laws and reducing the number of abortions.
In observing this trend across three decades, the life-saving effect of state laws, including parental involvement, informed consent, and other laws based on AUL model bills, is undeniable. AUL will continue working with legislators across the country to keep the momentum going.
Whatever the next year brings, we hope to pass even more life-affirming laws in the new year.
