Vermont amends law banning pregnancy centers from advertising, providing pro-life services  

Vermont recently amended a 2023 law that had banned pregnancy resource centers from advertising their services and permitting nonmedical staff to provide women information or counseling about pregnancy.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian legal nonprofit that represented pregnancy centers suing over the law, stated in a May 29 news release that Vermont will “no longer openly discriminate against the centers over their life-affirming service to their communities.”

Approved by Republican Gov. Phil Scott, the law previously did not allow pregnancy resource centers to advertise their services to pregnant women because they do not refer or commit abortions, according to another ADF release. The law had also stated that even non-medical pregnancy-related information, services, or counseling must be performed or provided by licensed health care professionals.

After pregnancy resource centers sued over the law, Vermont amended the law to allow the centers to operate.

“We’re pleased that Vermont recognized it needed to amend its discriminatory law that unlawfully targeted faith-based pregnancy centers and restricted their ability to speak and act according to their conscience,” ADF Legal Counsel Julia Payne Koon stated in the May 29 release. “Pregnancy centers must be free to serve and empower women and their families by offering the support they need without fear of unjust government punishment.”

The National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) was among the groups that sued. NIFLA Vice President of Legal Affairs Anne O’Connor celebrated the win in the release, but promised legal action if a similar situation arises again.

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