Unprecedented Lawsuit Challenges Missouri’s Abortion Restrictions Targeting Young People and Their Helpers

This is the first time forced parental involvement laws have been challenged in any state where voters amended their constitution to protect abortion.

KANSAS CITY, MO — Today, Right By You (RBY), the only youth-focused abortion access organization in Missouri, filed an unprecedented lawsuit that seeks to block parental involvement requirements and a ban on supporting young people who need an abortion. This is the first time a reproductive freedom amendment is being used to challenge forced parental involvement laws in any state where voters approved new constitutional rights. It’s also the first time parental involvement laws and an abortion support ban have been challenged at the same time. 

Since the US Supreme Court ended the federal right to abortion, voters in ten states have passed constitutional amendments to protect some abortion rights. Six of these 10 states (AZ, CO, MD, MI, MO, OH) continue to enforce pre-existing forced parental involvement laws against young abortion seekers. The Lawyering Project filed this challenge on behalf of RBY in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson County.

Statement from Stephanie Kraft Sheley, Founder and Director, Right By You:

“Right By You hears from young people who are scared and isolated while navigating their pregnancy decisions. These laws don’t protect youth — they are designed to punish those already in vulnerable situations. This lawsuit is about ensuring young abortion seekers can exercise their right to bodily autonomy, within the legal limits voters approved in November. We will continue fighting the systems that target and bully vulnerable youth.”

Last November, Missouri voters passed Amendment 3, a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to reproductive freedom until viability. Since the ballot measure passed, forced parental involvement and banning people from helping young abortion seekers continue to undermine full implementation of rights and freedoms secured under Amendment 3. RBY co-founded the What’s Next for Missouri coalition, which works to monitor post-Amendment 3 implementation and insist on accountability to the most marginalized Missourians — young people, people with low-incomes, later abortion patients, and underinsured people. 

Statement from What’s Next for Missouri:

“We commend Right By You for stepping into the gap left by Amendment 3 leaders. There is no excuse for leaving the most marginalized people behind. While this effort to address young vulnerable abortion seekers is a monumental step forward, the work does not end here. From gender-affirming care bans, attacks against education, the health crisis caused by guns, and insurance bans on abortion, young Missourians’ health and safety remain at risk. We will not stop fighting to end these injustices against our state’s next generation.” 

Young people overrepresent abortion seekers later in pregnancy. Amendment 3 does not protect later abortion in most circumstances, and no Missouri clinics provide past 13 weeks. Removing parental involvement laws and allowing support for young people seeking care reduces harm for a population more likely to travel out of state for care they cannot get in Missouri and for those who live in unsafe, unstable, or untraditional circumstances that might make it impossible or dangerous to involve a parent.

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Right By You is dedicated to providing comprehensive support and advocacy for teens and adults seeking reproductive health services in Missouri. We recognize the unique challenges Missourians - especially adolescents - face in accessing abortion care, contraception, respectful birth care and sexual health resources. Right By You operates on the front lines, bridging gaps and breaking down barriers to ensure that every person can make informed choices about their bodies and reproductive futures.

The Lawyering Project uses the law to improve abortion access and uphold the rights and dignity of people seeking and providing abortion care. Our goal is a legal system that enables each of us to make decisions about intensely personal matters like sex, pregnancy, family, and health care based on our own beliefs and values—and ensures that we all have the resources we need to carry those decisions out.