Federal Court Permanently Ends Law Requiring Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers to Promote Abortion

Washington, D.C. – On Friday, a federal district court ordered a permanent end to a California law which, among other things, attempted to force pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise abortion services. According to California's Reproductive FACT Act, AB 775, the disclosure must include a direct phone number for the county office that refers women to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the law in NIFLA v. Becerra earlier this year. Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) released the following statement:

"The Supreme Court ruled in June that it is a violation of the First Amendment for any government to force an entity to have to advertise for its competition, or in this case, to force pregnancy centers to advertise abortion services. Now a federal district court put a final end to this law which so clearly and blatantly violated the First Amendment. It was a clear case of compelled speech. The state of California had singled out a particular kind of organization and tried to force on them speech that violates who they are and the reason they exist. It was a violation of the Constitution and a threat to free speech for all Americans. The right to free speech restricts the government from being able to force Americans to speak or relay a message that violates their conscience. I am pleased to hear of this further protection of free speech within our courts, and as a result, the continued ability of pregnancy centers to provide quality care to women and families."