Wisconsin State Supreme Court Strikes Down 1849 Abortion Ban, But Thousands Will Still Rely on Surrounding States for Care
Media Contact:
Alicia Hurtado, Director of Advocacy and Communications, Chicago Abortion Fund
Email: communications@chicagoabortionfund.org
Phone: (708) 552-0477
CHICAGO, IL — July 2, 2025 — In a historic decision in Kaul v. Urmanski, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court today struck down the state’s 1849 abortion ban and affirmed that the Wisconsin Constitution protects the right to abortion. The ruling permanently blocks one of the oldest abortion restrictions in the country and marks a significant legal victory for abortion rights in the Midwest.
“This ruling is an important legal victory and it reflects popular opinion on abortion care – most people want legal, accessible abortion in their communities,” said Qudsiyyah Shariyf, Deputy Director of the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF). “With the threat of this ban eliminated, thousands of Wisconsinites will be able to access abortion care in their state. But it doesn’t change the reality that many people in Wisconsin still have to leave their state to access life-affirming, time-sensitive healthcare. People assume that if abortion is legal, it’s accessible—but that’s not the case for many in Wisconsin, and the growing number of people relying on CAF for support illustrates this clearly."
Why Abortion Seekers Will Still Travel to Illinois for Care
Even with the court’s decision, barriers to abortion in Wisconsin will continue to push people across state lines into Illinois and Minnesota for care:
Too Few Providers: With only five abortion clinics in the state, most Wisconsinites face wait times of multiple weeks and limited appointment availability.
Restrictive Policies: Mandatory waiting periods, biased counseling, mandatory ultrasounds, and parental consent laws disproportionately harm those already facing systemic inequalities.
Geographic and Financial Hurdles: Long travel distances, lack of public transportation, time off work, and childcare costs all remain major obstacles to timely care.
CAF’s Role in Continuing to Support Abortion Seekers from Wisconsin
The Chicago Abortion Fund continues to serve as a national access point for abortion seekers from Wisconsin and those from across the South and Midwest. In partnership with the Wisconsin Abortion Fund, CAF provides funding, individualized case management, and logistical support for Wisconsinites accessing care in Wisconsin and Illinois.
In 2024, 3,090 Wisconsinites obtained abortion care in Illinois, according to the Guttmacher Institute’s Monthly Abortion Provision Study, with 880 traveling to Minnesota.
Since the Dobbs decision in June 2022, monthly support requests on CAF’s helpline from Wisconsin have surged by 342%.
The Chicago Abortion Fund has fielded support requests from 3,800 Wisconsinites in the 3 years since the Dobbs decision, 85% of whom had appointments at Illinois clinics.
“We applaud this decision, but legal wins don’t erase the need for real, sustained investment in abortion care infrastructure,” said Shariyf. “Access to healthcare should not depend on your zip code, your income, or your ability to leave the state. As we celebrate, we are also committed to meeting the moment for the thousands of people relying on Illinois – in Wisconsin, and beyond – for whom legality is not enough to ensure abortion access.”
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The Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) is the largest independent abortion fund in the country. For 40 years, we've been tearing down barriers to abortion care in Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond. We’re not just providing funding; we’re supporting our callers in accessing freedom, dignity, and autonomy.
CAF offers support for people seeking abortion care in Illinois including, procedure funding, travel and related needs like childcare, emotional support and logistical expertise. The organization has relationships with abortion clinics across Illinois and beyond, and supports people nationwide coming to Illinois for care. Since the Dobbsdecision, CAF has received support requests from over 40,000 people. In 2024 alone, CAF fielded over 16,000 support requests and distributed over $5 million in direct assistance.