[JURIST] Kansas Governor Sam Brownback [official website] on Tuesday signed a bill [press release] that bans all forms of dismemberment abortion unless necessary to protect the life or health of the mother. The bill was approved [JURIST report] by the Kansas legislature near the end of March. Kansas is the first state to ban this type of procedure, typically used to perform second trimester abortions. A public ceremonial signing of SB 95 [legislative materials] will take place on April 28. To date, the governor has signed 22 bills into law this session.

Reproductive rights [JURIST backgrounder] have remained a divisive issue throughout the country. This month the Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel appealed [JURIST report] a federal court ruling that struck down a law requiring doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. At the end of March Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill [JURIST report] that requires abortion providers in the state to tell women they can reverse the effects of a drug-induced abortion and also bars women from buying any health care plan through the federal marketplace that includes coverage for abortions. Also in March the West Virginia Legislature overrode [JURIST report] the governor’s veto, passing a bill banning abortion after 20 weeks.