AG Rayfield Vows to Appeal Federal Ruling on Reproductive Health Equity Act
Summary
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced the state will appeal a federal court ruling holding that the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) cannot be applied to Oregon Right to Life based on religious freedom rights under the First Amendment. The judge ruled that applying the law's contraceptive and abortion coverage requirements to the organization violated its religious exercise. The AG stated the impact appears limited to the specific religious exemption claim brought by one organization.
What changed
A federal judge ruled that Oregon's Reproductive Health Equity Act cannot be applied to Oregon Right to Life, finding that the law's requirements for contraceptive and abortion coverage violated the organization's religious freedom rights under the First Amendment. The Attorney General has announced the state will appeal this decision and use all available tools to defend the law.
Healthcare providers and insurers should monitor for developments in the appeal process. The ruling currently applies only to Oregon Right to Life under its specific religious exemption claim, and the AG's office has indicated the impact is limited. Further court proceedings may clarify the scope of religious exemptions under RHEA and affect coverage obligations for other organizations with similar religious convictions.
What to do next
- Monitor for updates on appeal proceedings
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Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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AG Rayfield Vows to Defend Reproductive Health Equity Act After Court Ruling
April 14, 2026 • Posted in Homepage, Media Release
“Access to reproductive health care – including abortion and contraception – is fundamental. For years, Oregon has been a national leader in protecting that access, and the Reproductive Health Equity Act reflects that commitment by ensuring people can get the care they need through their health coverage without barriers or out-of-pocket costs.
“Today, a federal judge ruled that RHEA cannot be applied to Oregon Right to Life, finding that it violates its religious freedom rights under the First Amendment. We will know more when a written opinion is issued. At this time, we do believe the impact is limited, as this ruling addresses a specific religious exemption claim brought by one organization.
“Our office will use every tool available to the state to defend access to abortion and Oregon’s Reproductive Health Equity Act, including appealing this decision.”
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