What a difference a state can make—especially when it comes to supporting women and men facing unplanned pregnancies and fostering a pro-family culture.
A few weeks ago on this blog, we wrote about a government-sponsored campaign in Massachusetts that seeks to discredit pregnancy resources and increase abortion availability. Previous articles focused on the New York Attorney General’s lawsuit against PRCs and campaigns in New Jersey and California that seek to intimidate pro-life organizations.
And then there are states like North Dakota. The Peace Garden State recently developed Life.ND.gov, a parenting and pregnancy website that is a resource for expectant mothers and families. The site was produced with input from pro-life legislators and Concerned Women for America.
In an op-ed to multiple publications, Linda Thorson, state director for Concerned Women for America of North Dakota, praised the state’s new web portal and its life-affirming Baby Safe Haven Law.
“North Dakota is a family-friendly state. The lives of mothers and their children born and unborn are supported by our laws,” she wrote.
Life.nd.gov, found on the state’s Health and Human Services website, contains public and private resources regarding financial assistance, childbirth life services, pregnancy and parenting information, adoption services, and social services. Links to North Dakota pregnancy centers can be found in sections that focus on pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and alternatives to abortion, which is basically illegal in the state.
In April of 2023, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum signed one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country. The legislation bans nearly all abortions throughout a pregnancy, with very narrow exceptions. Abortions are only permitted up to six weeks of gestation in cases of rape, incest, or medical emergencies, such as ectopic pregnancies. After six weeks, the exceptions for rape and incest no longer apply.
Performing an abortion in North Dakota is classified as a Class C felony, potentially resulting in a maximum of five years in prison if convicted.
“This bill clarifies and refines existing state law … and reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state,” Burgum said in a statement when the bill became law.
In her op-ed, Thorson expressed thanks for the parenting and pregnancy website and North Dakota’s Baby Safe Haven Law, which allows parents to surrender infants up to one year old anonymously and without fear of prosecution. This law provides a safe, legal alternative to abandonment, ensuring babies are left in secure environments like hospitals or fire stations. Since its implementation, the Safe Haven law has saved multiple lives, offering a compassionate solution for parents in crisis.
“State laws provide support for families to encourage expectant mothers to choose life for their unborn children,” wrote Thorson. “Nearly all abortions are prohibited… With our state’s [new] website, North Dakota provides compassionate care and life-giving support to assist mothers and their babies.”