# **Burgum On Abortion**
**_Highlights_**:
- Doug Burgum signed a near-total abortion ban with limited exceptions.
- Under the law, abortions were allowed in cases of rape or incest up to six weeks’ gestation.
- Burgum said the legislation enshrined North Dakota’s status as a “pro-life state.”
- A plurality of likely North Dakota voters opposed the ban.
- Doug Burgum signed into law a restriction on state college ties with abortion providers.
- Doug Burgum praised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
- Doug Burgum signed so-called “abortion reversal” legislation into law.
- Doctors said the legislation required doctors to push false information.
## **2023: Burgum Signed A Near-Total Abortion Ban Into Law With Limited Exceptions**
### **2023: Burgum Signed A Near-Total Abortion Ban Into Law In North Dakota, With Slim Exceptions**
**2023: Burgum Signed Legislation Banning Abortion At Nearly Any Point In Pregnancy.** According to the Associated Press, “North Dakota on Monday adopted one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country as Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed legislation banning the procedure throughout pregnancy, with slim exceptions up to six week gestation. In those early weeks, abortions would only be allowed in cases of rape or incest, or in medical emergencies. After six weeks, rape and incest victims cannot get abortions. Abortions to treat some medical emergencies, such as ectopic pregnancies, are allowed at any stage of pregnancy.” \[Associated Press, [_4/25/23_](https://apnews.com/article/abortion-north-dakota-six-week-ban-2bccde2925d30dd4772aaed84f3c2d98)\]
**The Abortion Ban Was A Dramatic Shift For North Dakota.** According to the New York Times, “The new law, which takes immediate effect, is a dramatic shift for the state, where abortions had been legal up until 22 weeks of pregnancy.” \[New York Times, [_4/24/23_](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/us/abortion-ban-north-dakota.html)\]
#### **_Burgum Signed A Near-Total Abortion Ban Following The Dobbs Decision_**
**2023: Burgum Signed Into Law Legislation That Revised A Previously Legislated Near-Total Ban That Was Triggered Into Law Following The Dobbs Decision.** In April 2023, Doug Burgum signed into law Senate Bill 2150. The bill, according to the North Dakota Legislature, “create\[d\] and enact\[ed\] a new chapter to title 12.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to abortions; \[amended\] and reenact\[ed\] sections 14-02.1-01, 14-02.1-02, 14-02.1-02.1, 14-02.1-02.2, 14-02.1-03, 14-02.1-03.1, 14-02.1-04, and 14-02.1-07, and subsection 1 of section 43-17-31 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to abortion and grounds for disciplinary action imposed against a physician; \[repealed\] sections 12.1-31-12, 14-02.1-04.1, 14-02.1-04.2, 14-02.1-05.1, 14-02.1-05.2, and 14-02.1-05.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to abortions, sex-selective abortions, genetic abnormality abortions, human dismemberment abortions, and abortions after a detectable heartbeat; \[provided\] a penalty; and \[declared\] an emergency.” \[North Dakota Legislature, [_accessed 5/16/24_](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/documents/23-0137-08000.pdf); North Dakota Legislature, [_S.B. 2150_](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/bill-actions/ba2150.html)\]
#### **_The Legislation Signed By Burgum Allowed A Limited Exception For Cases Of Rape Or Incest, But For Just The First Six Weeks Of Pregnancy_**
**Under The Law, Abortions Were Allowed In Cases Of Rape Or Incest Up To Six Weeks Gestation.** According to the Associated Press, “North Dakota on Monday adopted one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country as Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed legislation banning the procedure throughout pregnancy, with slim exceptions up to six weeks’ gestation. In those early weeks, abortions would only be allowed in cases of rape or incest, or in medical emergencies. After six weeks, rape and incest victims cannot get abortions.” \[Associated Press, [_4/25/23_](https://apnews.com/article/abortion-north-dakota-six-week-ban-2bccde2925d30dd4772aaed84f3c2d98)\]
### **Burgum Said The Ban Reaffirmed North Dakota’s Position As “A Pro-Life State”**
**Burgum Said The Abortion Ban Legislation Reaffirmed “North Dakota As A Pro-Life State.”** According to the Associated Press, “‘This bill clarifies and refines existing state law ... and reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state,’ Burgum said in a statement.” \[Associated Press, [_4/25/23_](https://apnews.com/article/abortion-north-dakota-six-week-ban-2bccde2925d30dd4772aaed84f3c2d98)\]
### **The Abortion Ban Was Opposed By A Plurality Of Likely North Dakota Voters**
**Survey: The Abortion Ban Was Opposed By A Plurality Of Likely North Dakota Voters.** According to KFGO, “The results of a survey of likely voters by the North Dakota News Cooperative on a variety of candidates and issues show that the state’s voters are sharply divided on the state’s new abortion ban. Most other questions in the poll yielded results that were not particularly close and, in the case of the Republican Presidential field, strikingly lopsided. Respondents were asked to weigh in on the new state law that bans abortion after the first six weeks of pregnancy, even in cases of rape and incest, and makes it a felony for doctors to perform abortions after the first six weeks. The poll results showed that North Dakota voters oppose the ban by a margin of 48% to 44% in favor. 38% strongly opposed the new law, with 30% strongly supporting it. 71% of Republicans supported the abortion ban, while only 8% of Democrats did. Only 29% of women ages 18-54 supported it, while 49% of men in the same age group did.” \[KFGO, [_11/14/23_](https://kfgo.com/2023/11/14/928213/)\]
## **2024: Burgum Signed Restrictions Into Law On State Colleges’ Ability To Create Partnerships With Abortion Providers**
### **2024: Burgum Signed Into Law A Restriction On State College Ties With Abortion Providers**
**2024: Burgum Signed Into Law Senate Bill 2030, A Restriction On State College Ties With Abortion Providers.** According to the American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota, “After the 2021 legislative session, Gov. Doug Burgum signed into law Senate Bill 2030, legislation that restricts state college ties with abortion providers. If a North Dakota University System (NDUS) institution partners with an organization that supports abortion rights, the institution is then ineligible for funds under the Higher Education Challenge Grant.” \[American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota, Accessed [_5/6/24_](https://www.aclund.org/en/kyr-sb2030)\]
**The Law Restricted North Dakota’s Challenge Grant Program.** According to Ms. Magazine, “The law restricts North Dakota’s Challenge Grant program, which matches $1 for every $2 raised by universities for scholarships. To be eligible, universities must certify they are not ‘sponsoring, partnering with, applying for grants with, or providing a grant subaward to any person or organization that performs or promotes the performance of an abortion unless the abortion is necessary to prevent the death of the woman, and not participating in or sponsoring any program producing, distributing, publishing, disseminating, endorsing, or approving materials of any type or from any organization which, between normal childbirth and abortion, do not give preference, encouragement, and support to normal childbirth.’ The law has no exception for abortion in cases of rape or incest.” \[Ms. Magazine, [_5/26/21_](https://msmagazine.com/2021/05/26/cancel-culture-north-dakota-university-block-abortion-planned-parenthood/)\]
## **2022: Burgum Praised Roe V. Wade Being Overturned**
### **2022: Burgum Praised Roe V. Wade Being Overturned**
**2022: Burgum Praised Roe v. Wade Being Overturned.** According to Burgum’s Office of the Governor Website, “Gov. Doug Burgum released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court opinion issued today that effectively overturns Roe v. Wade and allows states to set their own laws related to abortion. ‘Today’s landmark Supreme Court decision returns power to the states where it belongs,’ Burgum said. ‘Our administration has consistently supported pro-life legislation and this decision is a victory for the many North Dakotans who have fought so hard and for so long to protect the unborn in our state. We will now work diligently with the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office to fulfill our constitutional duty by carrying out the 2007 legislation that is triggered by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. We must now turn to prioritizing women’s health, including expectant mothers and children in need.’” \[Burgum’s Office of the Governor Website, [_6/24/22_](https://www.governor.nd.gov/news/burgum-releases-statement-us-supreme-court-opinion-returns-abortion-issue-states)\]
## **2019: Burgum Signed Legislation That Doctors Said Enabled False Information About Medication Abortion**
### **2019: Burgum Signed So-Called “Abortion Reversal” Legislation**
**Burgum Signed So-Called “Abortion Reversal” Legislation.** According to the Associated Press, “Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has signed a bill that requires abortion providers to tell women undergoing drug-induced abortions that it’s possible they could still have a live birth if they change their mind. Opponents claim there is no medically accepted evidence that a drug-induced abortion can be interrupted. Lawmakers approved the ‘abortion reversal’ legislation last week. Burgum signed the bill on Friday.” \[Associated Press, [_3/22/19_](https://apnews.com/general-news-b7069ebb49e548e69999062bdff35423)\]
### **The American Medical Association Argued In A Lawsuit That The Information The Law Required Doctors To Share Was False**
**The American Medical Association Said In A Lawsuit That The Information The Law Required Doctors To Share On “Abortion Reversal” Was False.** According to the Washington Post, “One of America’s leading medical organizations has filed a lawsuit to block a North Dakota abortion law requiring doctors to tell women that a medication-induced abortion can be ‘reversed,’ an assertion medical experts say is scientifically unsound. The American Medical Association has joined the Red River Women’s Clinic, the last abortion facility in the state, and its medical director, Kathryn Eggleston, to argue that the law violates doctors’ constitutional right to free speech by forcing them to lie to patients. The plaintiffs also contest an existing provision in North Dakota law that requires a doctor to tell a woman that the abortion will ‘terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being,’ a statement they argue is ideologically biased and ‘forces physicians to act as the mouthpiece of the state.’” \[Washington Post, [_7/2/19_](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2019/07/02/medication-abortions-cant-be-reversed-law-forcing-doctors-say-they-can-be-is-headed-court/)\]
- **The Claim That Drug-Induced Abortions Could Be Reversed Was Not Supported By Science. According to the Bismarck Tribune, “The North Dakota House easily passed a contentious bill requiring physicians to inform women that they could reverse drug-induced abortions Monday, a claim opponents have said isn't supported by science.” \[Bismarck Tribune,** [**_1/28/19_**](https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/north-dakota-house-passes-bill-requiring-doctors-to-inform-women-of-potential-for-abortion-reversal/article_e76a338c-59a4-5833-a5d8-845fb9ed410f.html)**\]**