Pro-life organization Oregon Right to Life (ORTL) is not required to cover abortions in its employee health insurance plans under the Oregon Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA), a federal district court ruled April 14.
ORTL sued the state in 2023 after Oregon denied the organization a religious exemption from RHEA because it is not expressly affiliated with a religion, local outlet FOX 12 reported.
According to court documents, ORTL acknowledged that it does not fall under the “religious employer” exemption because “its purpose is prolife advocacy, not inculcating religious values, and it doesn’t primarily serve persons sharing its religious tenets.” The organization nevertheless said it “objects on religious grounds” to covering abortions and contraceptives in its insurance plans and argued the state’s mandate violated its religious freedom rights.
Oregon U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai sided with ORTL, announcing immediately after oral arguments April 14 that he would rule in its favor because he found enforcing RHEA against the organization would be unconstitutional, according to an ORTL press release.
Kasubhai’s decision follows years of litigation, ORTL stated. The case was dismissed in 2025, prompting an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court later reversed the lower court’s original decision and remanded the case, leading to the legal win for ORTL.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield, both Democrats, have promised to review Kasubhai’s written opinion once it is issued and appeal the decision, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported.
ORTL Executive Director Lois Anderson stated in the release, “It was always absurd for Oregon to attempt to force Oregon Right to Life, as a pro-life organization, to fund abortion — the very practice we are dedicated to opposing.”
“Yesterday, the federal court agreed,” she continued. “This is a win for Oregon Right to Life, but more than that, it is a victory for all pro-life Oregonians.”