Nonprofit Challenges Missouri Parental Consent Law for Minors' Abortions

A reproductive health nonprofit, Right By You, has filed a lawsuit to overturn Missouri’s laws requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions and banning assistance to minors pursuing abortion care. The lawsuit argues these laws are unconstitutional under Amendment 3, which Missouri voters passed last year to enshrine the right to reproductive health care, including abortion, in the state constitution without age limits. Right By You contends that the existing restrictions burden and punish young people, particularly those without parental support, and hinder organizations from providing necessary assistance. Missouri officials, including the Attorney General, have defended the laws, framing them as essential for parental rights and the safety of minors. This legal challenge marks the first time parental involvement laws have been contested in a state with newly established constitutional abortion rights, highlighting ongoing debates about the scope of protections for minors despite broader abortion rights gains. The outcome could set a precedent for other states where abortion rights amendments coexist with parental involvement laws.