Delaware is poised to become one of the few states mandating that public colleges provide abortion services, a move that has ignited debate over the implications for student health and safety.
On June 30, the Delaware legislature passed a bill requiring public universities with health centers to offer medication abortions—commonly known as abortion pills—as well as emergency contraception. This legislation aligns Delaware with states like New York, Massachusetts, and California, which have implemented similar requirements.
Senate Bill 301 is currently awaiting the signature of Governor John Carney, a pro-choice Democrat. If signed, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2025.
The new law mandates that universities such as Delaware State University and the University of Delaware provide these services on campus. Health centers will be required to offer consultations either in-person, via telehealth, or through affiliated external agencies. Campuses without health centers must offer information and referral services, ensuring their health services websites include details on reproductive options.
Senator Kyle Evans Gay, the primary sponsor of the bill, emphasized that the legislation enhances reproductive health care access for college students. “We are expanding access to safe and reliable medical interventions for thousands of young adults,” Gay stated on Facebook on July 1.
However, the bill has faced criticism from pro-life advocates, who argue it poses risks and challenges. Moira Sheridan, President of Delaware Right to Life, criticized the bill as “discriminatory,” suggesting it treats college-age women as if they are incapable of making informed decisions. She also questioned why women could not access existing local resources like Planned Parenthood clinics or other abortion services.
Chanel Jacobs, spokesperson for Students for Life Action, condemned the bill, asserting it could lead to “injury, infertility, and death” for women, and called it an “abuse of taxpayer money.” She pointed to common side effects of medication abortion, which include nausea, weakness, and more severe risks such as infection and undetected ectopic pregnancies. Jacobs also argued that providing these services conflicts with the educational mission of colleges, suggesting that universities should focus on preparing future leaders rather than administering abortion pills.
The bill’s critics are also concerned about the capability of university health centers to manage complications associated with medication abortions, such as excessive bleeding and pain. Sheridan noted that many health centers may not be equipped to handle severe side effects or the need for follow-up surgical procedures.
Despite these concerns, data from the Guttmacher Institute, an organization that supports abortion access, indicates that medication abortions constituted 63 percent of all abortions in 2023.
The College Fix reached out multiple times to Senators Kyra Hoffner, Sarah McBride, David Sokola, and Representatives Paul Baumbach, Eric Morrison, and DeShanna Neal, seeking their comments, but received no response.
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