Crisis pregnancy centers, often referred to as limited service pregnancy centers or pregnancy resource centers, are non-profit health clinics that intentionally mislead pregnant people about their reproductive health-care choices in order to prevent them from obtaining abortions.
There are over 3,500 crisis pregnancy centers in operation across the country. CPCs are almost entirely backed by anti-choice organizations, including: Care Net, Heartbeat International, and the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA).
CPCs employ a variety of deceptive tactics in order to discourage pregnant people from choosing to obtain an abortion. They routinely trick patients seeking abortion into entering their facilities by looking like an abortion clinic, opening next door to one, or running misleading abortion ads on Google. Once a pregnant person visits these clinics, CPC representatives deceive patients by making false claims about the physical and mental risks of abortion and providing false information about contraceptives. CPC representatives will also engage in emotional manipulation by showing graphic videos, providing baby items, or by using terms such as “baby” and “killing” when referring to the fetus and abortion.
In 2009, Baltimore became the first city to enact an ordinance requiring limited-service pregnancy centers to post signs in their waiting rooms indicating that such centers do not provide or make referrals for abortion or birth-control services. A similar ordinance was passed in Montgomery County, Maryland, requiring centers to post signs indicating the lack of licensed medical providers on staff. Both ordinances were later blocked by federal courts. Similar local ordinances in Texas and New York have also been blocked and/or revised in court.
In 2015, California passed the Reproductive Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency (FACT) Act. The law requires crisis pregnancy centers to disclose to patients that their facilities do not offer comprehensive reproductive care, including contraception and abortion. The law requires the state’s licensed pregnancy centers to display a brief statement with a number to call for access to free and low-cost birth control and abortion care. Additionally, facilities without medical licenses are required to post a notice saying they have neither a license nor licensed providers on staff.
The conservative law firm Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), challenged the law on behalf of NIFLA, arguing the law violates their First Amendment free speech and religious exercise rights. Both the lower court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of the disclosures, holding they fell within the state’s broad power to regulate medical providers to protect patients. ADF and NIFLA appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which agreed to take up the challenge. In a 5-4 decision on June 26, 2018, the justices sided with the CPCs and ruled that the California law likely violated the First Amendment, and the case was sent back to the lower courts for reconsideration.
In 2017, Hawaii enacted a law requiring anti-abortion clinics inform pregnant people of the availability of comprehensive family planning services. Once again, ADF and NIFLA filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing the law violates their free speech and religious exercise rights. That same year, ADF sued the state of Illinois, in federal and state court, after a new law was enacted requiring pregnancy centers to provide referrals for abortion services. All cases are currently pending.
Examples of pro-CPC state legislation (last updated September 12, 2018)
Legislation supporting crisis pregnancy centers typically come in two forms: resolutions commending the work of CPCs, and laws seeking to increase state and federal funding of CPCs (at the expense of actual reproductive health clinics).
Enacting proclamations honoring CPCs around the country may seem harmless, but this strategy lends legitimacy and government approval to CPCs despite their deceptive tactics. Such resolutions typically contain language commending the work of CPCs; acknowledging the so-called contributions they make to women’s reproductive health; encouraging federal and state funding for CPCs; and denouncing reproductive rights organizations that work to expose their deceptive tactics. This type of resolution is based on model legislation drafted by the Americans United for Life (AUL).
Laws seeking to increase state and federal funding of crisis pregnancy centers come in various forms. Some laws attempt to increase funding of CPCs through the state’s budget; while other laws create grant programs for entities that promote pregnancy and parenting services as alternatives to abortion. Other laws attempt to divert tax dollars from federal programs, like the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
According to an analysis by Rewire, in this fiscal year alone, CPCs in 14 states (Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin) will receive over $40 million in taxpayer dollars.
Finally, many states fund CPCs through the issuance of “Choose Life” license plates. According to Guttmacher, 32 states allow the production of “Choose Life” license plates; 17 of the states donate a portion of the proceeds raised to specific anti-choice organizations or crisis pregnancy centers; and 10 states specifically prohibit any funds raised from being distributed to organizations that provide abortion services, counseling, referrals or advertising.
Laws
Title |
Number |
State |
Proposed |
Status |
Missouri Two-Parent Notification Law 2014 (HB 1192)
|
HB 1192 |
Missouri |
Dec 27, 2013 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Regulating Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB 1848)
|
HB 1848 |
Missouri |
Feb 13, 2014 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Prohibiting Regulation of Crisis Pregnancy Centers 2014 (HB 1103)
|
HB 1103 |
Missouri |
Dec 3, 2013 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Prohibiting Regulation of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (SB 50)
|
SB 50 |
Missouri |
Dec 1, 2012 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Prohibiting Regulation of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (SB 658)
|
SB 658 |
Missouri |
Jan 6, 2014 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Increasing Income Tax Credits for Contributions to Pregnancy Resource Centers (HB 1132)
|
HB 1132 |
Missouri |
Dec 6, 2013 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Prohibiting Regulation of Crisis Pregnancy Centers 2013 (HB 31)
|
HB 31 |
Missouri |
Dec 3, 2012 |
Failed to Pass |
South Dakota Bill Requiring Waiting Period and Counseling (HB 1217)
|
HB 1217 |
South Dakota |
Jan 31, 2011 |
Current |
Kansas Honoring Crisis Pregnancy Centers (SCR 1606)
|
SCR 1606 |
Kansas |
Jan 22, 2013 |
Current |
Louisiana Resolution Commending Crisis Pregnancy Centers (SR 110)
|
SR 110 |
Louisiana |
May 15, 2013 |
Current |
Illinois Choose Life License Plate Bill (HB 1244)
|
HB 1244 |
Illinois |
Feb 1, 2013 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Regarding Two-Parent Written Notification Requirement (HB 99)
|
HB 99 |
Missouri |
Dec 2, 2014 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Regulating Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB 351)
|
HB 351 |
Missouri |
Jan 5, 2015 |
Failed to Pass |
Arizona Bill Regarding Ultrasounds Performed at Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB 2467)
|
HB 2467 |
Arizona |
Jan 15, 2015 |
Failed to Pass |
Arizona Bill Regulating Crisis Pregnancy Centers 2015 (HB 2227)
|
HB 2227 |
Arizona |
Jan 29, 2015 |
Failed to Pass |
Minnesota Bill Regarding Abortion Facilities Licensure Requirement (SF 794)
|
SF 794 |
Minnesota |
Feb 12, 2015 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Prohibiting Regulation of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB 919)
|
HB 919 |
Missouri |
Feb 11, 2015 |
Failed to Pass |
Michigan Choose Life License Plate Bill (SB 84)
|
SB 84 |
Michigan |
Feb 5, 2015 |
Failed to Pass |
Michigan Choose Life License Plate Bill (HB 4140)
|
HB 4140 |
Michigan |
Feb 5, 2015 |
Failed to Pass |
Illinois Choose Life License Plate Bill (HB 423)
|
HB 423 |
Illinois |
Jan 28, 2015 |
Failed to Pass |
California Reproductive FACT Act (AB 775)
|
AB 775 |
California |
Feb 25, 2015 |
Current |
New York Bill Regarding Crisis Pregnancy Centers (S 508)
|
S 508 |
New York |
Jan 7, 2015 |
Failed to Pass |
New York Bill Regarding Crisis Pregnancy Centers (A 4055)
|
A 4055 |
New York |
Jan 29, 2015 |
Failed to Pass |
New York Bill Regarding Crisis Pregnancy Center Disclosures (A 3748)
|
A 3748 |
New York |
Oct 29, 2013 |
Failed to Pass |
New York Bill Regarding Pregnancy Service Center Disclosures (S 5175)
|
S 5175 |
New York |
May 13, 2013 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Regulating Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB 1906)
|
HB 1906 |
Missouri |
Jan 7, 2016 |
Failed to Pass |
Arizona Bill Regulating Crisis Pregnancy Centers 2016 (HB 2206)
|
HB 2206 |
Arizona |
Jan 13, 2016 |
Failed to Pass |
Nebraska Choose Life Plates Bill (LB 768)
|
LB 768 |
Nebraska |
Jan 6, 2016 |
Failed to Pass |
Georgia House Resolution Recognizing Pregnancy Centers (HR 1306)
|
HR 1306 |
Georgia |
Feb 8, 2016 |
Current |
Georgia Senate Resolution Recognizing Pregnancy Centers (SR 820)
|
SR 820 |
Georgia |
Jan 26, 2016 |
Failed to Pass |
California Pregnancy Center Notice Requirement for Abortion Clinics (AB 2775)
|
AB 2775 |
California |
Feb 19, 2016 |
Failed to Pass |
South Dakota Bill Revising Regulations for Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB 1212)
|
HB 1212 |
South Dakota |
Feb 3, 2016 |
Current |
Georgia Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program (SB 308)
|
SB 308 |
Georgia |
Jan 28, 2016 |
Current |
Oregon Bill Funding Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB 4059)
|
HB 4059 |
Oregon |
Feb 1, 2016 |
Failed to Pass |
Louisiana Resolution Commending Crisis Pregnancy Centers (SCR 72)
|
SCR 72 |
Louisiana |
Apr 20, 2016 |
Current |
Louisiana Resolution Commending Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HCR 82)
|
HCR 82 |
Louisiana |
Apr 18, 2016 |
Current |
Indiana Bill Regarding Civil Rights Protections and Religious Freedom (SB 344)
|
SB 344 |
Indiana |
Jan 7, 2016 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Relating to the Protection of Religious Organizations (SB 916)
|
SB 916 |
Missouri |
Jan 13, 2016 |
Failed to Pass |
Oklahoma Bill Regarding the Posting of Certain Information (SB 30)
|
SB 30 |
Oklahoma |
Feb 6, 2017 |
Current |
Missouri Bill Reauthorizing Tax Credits for CPCs (SB 15)
|
SB 15 |
Missouri |
Jan 4, 2017 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Providing Protections for Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB 174)
|
HB 174 |
Missouri |
Jan 4, 2017 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Providing Protections for Crisis Pregnancy Centers (SB 41)
|
SB 41 |
Missouri |
Jan 4, 2017 |
Failed to Pass |
Oregon Bill Funding Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB 2125)
|
HB 2125 |
Oregon |
Jan 9, 2017 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Reauthorizing Tax Credits for CPCs (HB 655)
|
HB 655 |
Missouri |
Jan 19, 2017 |
Failed to Pass |
Kansas Resolution Honoring Crisis Pregnancy Centers (SR 1706)
|
SR 1706 |
Kansas |
Jan 23, 2017 |
Current |
Georgia Bill Regarding the Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program (SB 193)
|
SB 193 |
Georgia |
Feb 16, 2017 |
Current |
Illinois Pregnancy Help Center Referral Act (SB 1595)
|
SB 1595 |
Illinois |
Feb 9, 2017 |
Proposed |
Oklahoma ‘Choosing Childbirth Act’ (HB 1703)
|
HB 1703 |
Oklahoma |
Feb 6, 2017 |
Current |
Louisiana Resolution Commending Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HCR 63)
|
HCR 63 |
Louisiana |
May 9, 2017 |
Current |
Missouri Bill Regarding Local Abortion Policies (SB 6)
|
SB 6 |
Missouri |
Jun 12, 2017 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Regarding Local Abortion Policies (HB 9)
|
HB 9 |
Missouri |
Jun 12, 2017 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Reauthorizing Tax Credits for CPCs (SB 632)
|
SB 632 |
Missouri |
Jan 3, 2018 |
Failed to Pass |
Missouri Bill Extending the Expiration Date of Tax Credits for Donations to CPCs (HB 1288)
|
HB 1288 |
Missouri |
Jan 3, 2018 |
Current |
Florida Pregnancy Support and Wellness Bill (SB 444)
|
SB 444 |
Florida |
Jan 9, 2018 |
Proposed |
Florida Pregnancy Support and Wellness Services Bill (HB 41)
|
HB 41 |
Florida |
Jan 9, 2018 |
Current |
South Dakota Bill Regarding Pre-Abortion Counseling (SB 110)
|
SB 110 |
South Dakota |
Jan 22, 2018 |
Current |
Alabama Resolution Recognizing the Contributions of Pregnancy Care Centers (SR 59)
|
SR 59 |
Alabama |
Feb 13, 2018 |
Adopted |
Kentucky Resolution Honoring Pregnancy Help Centers (HCR 152)
|
HCR 152 |
Kentucky |
Feb 12, 2018 |
Current |
Kentucky Resolution Honoring Pregnancy Help Centers (SCR 154)
|
SCR 154 |
Kentucky |
Feb 6, 2018 |
Current |
Minnesota ‘Choose Life’ License Plate Bill (SF 2644)
|
SF 2644 |
Minnesota |
Feb 26, 2018 |
Failed to Pass |
Minnesota ‘Choose Life’ License Plates Bill (HF 2998)
|
HF 2998 |
Minnesota |
Feb 22, 2018 |
Failed to Pass |
Louisiana Resolution Commending Pregnancy Resource Centers (HCR 26)
|
HCR 26 |
Louisiana |
Apr 2, 2018 |
Current |
Tennessee Resolution Honoring the TLC Community Center (HJR 1007)
|
HJR 1007 |
Tennessee |
Mar 28, 2018 |
Proposed |
Tennessee Resolution Honoring the TLC Community Center (HR 299)
|
HR 299 |
Tennessee |
Apr 10, 2018 |
Current |
Missouri Appropriations Bill (HB 2011)
|
HB 2011 |
Missouri |
Feb 13, 2018 |
Current |
Missouri ‘Stands for the Unborn Act’ (HB 126)
|
HB 126 |
Missouri |
Jan 9, 2019 |
Current-Partially Blocked |
Missouri Bill Removing Geographical Practice Limits for Certain CPC Staff (HB 420)
|
HB 420 |
Missouri |
Jan 9, 2019 |
Failed to Pass |
Minnesota ‘Choose Life’ License Plate Bill (SF 298)
|
SF 298 |
Minnesota |
Jan 22, 2019 |
Proposed |
Missouri Bill Removing Geographical Practice Limits for Certain CPC Staff (SB 280)
|
SB 280 |
Missouri |
Jan 22, 2019 |
Failed to Pass |
Minnesota ‘Choose Life’ License Plate Bill (HF 640)
|
HF 640 |
Minnesota |
Feb 4, 2019 |
Proposed |
Minnesota CPC Appropriation Bill (SF 1462)
|
SF 1462 |
Minnesota |
Feb 18, 2019 |
Proposed |
Minnesota CPC Appropriation Bill (HF 1392)
|
HF 1392 |
Minnesota |
Feb 18, 2019 |
Proposed |
Texas Bill Relating to the ‘Texas Alternatives to Abortion Program’ (HB 3873)
|
HB 3873 |
Texas |
Mar 7, 2019 |
Failed to Pass |
Louisiana Resolution Commending Rep. Frank A. Hoffman (HCR 55)
|
HCR 55 |
Louisiana |
May 6, 2019 |
Adopted |
Louisiana Resolution Recognizing May 9, 2019, as ‘Bowties for Babies Day’ at the State Capital (HCR 54)
|
HCR 54 |
Louisiana |
May 6, 2019 |
Adopted |
Tennessee Resolution Recognizing CareNet Pregnancy Medical Center’s 25th Anniversary (HJR 601)
|
HJR 601 |
Tennessee |
Apr 23, 2019 |
Adopted |