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In the relentless nightmare that is the post-Roe United States, it can be hard to find the bright spots for abortion rights. Maternal mortality rates in states with abortion bans are increasing. South Carolina, which already has a draconian six-week abortion ban in effect, is now debating whether to ban nearly all abortions in the state. The future of mifepristone access remains murky and tenuous under the Trump administration and hostile congressional Republicans.

Yet amid the horror and chaos, there have been some notable victories for abortion rights and access, from the political to the practical. And while these efforts can’t and won’t all the harm of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, they do show that it is possible — and ever-more essential — to try to make any meaningful change in support of abortion access.

After the fall of Roe v. Wade, Illinois has become a safe haven for abortion seekers from across the country — in fact, around 1 in 4 people seeking abortion care from out of state choose Illinois. In response to the ongoing abortion access crisis, Gov. JB Pritzker has done more than offer empty lip service to abortion rights.

House Bill 5408, Pritzker’s initiative, sponsored by Illinois State Rep. Anna Moeller, would create an abortion access fund to cover abortion for uninsured and underinsured people in Illinois. The bill cleverly uses an existing Affordable Care Act provision which requires insurance plans that cover abortion care to collect at least $1 a month and, instead of insurance companies keeping those unused funds, directs them to the state. The bill has already passed the Illinois House of Representatives and is now heading to the state senate.

Pennsylvania Court Rules State Law Banning Funds for Abortion Is Unconstitutional

This bill is exactly what blue states should be doing — expanding access by making abortion more financially accessible, particularly for those who lack insurance coverage that covers abortion. For decades, abortion funds have bridged the gap between legality and access, providing financial support to abortion seekers. For too long that burden has fallen on small, independent nonprofits instead........

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