California could soon allow Arizona doctors to give their patients abortions in the Golden State under a proposal announced by Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.
The proposal is meant to circumvent Arizona’s ban on nearly all abortions, and comes two weeks after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the state should follow a ruling from 1864 that bans abortions in nearly all cases.
Efforts to repeal that ban saw a boost Wednesday morning when Arizona state House lawmakers voted to pass a bill to take it off the books. That bill would need to be approved by the state Senate and be signed by Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs.
Arizona Supreme Court Justices issued a stay on their initial ruling, so the ban won’t go into effect until June 8.
Newsom said protecting access to abortions is “just about basic decency” and “respect for women and girls.”
“This Arizona law is the first border-state law that will directly impact the state of California,” the Democratic governor said. “Rather than just acknowledging that fate and future, we're trying to get ahead of this law.”
In a document given to reporters, his office said the legislation is a “valuable stopgap even in the scenario where [Arizona’s] Republican-led legislature passes a law to repeal this extreme ban.”
If the bill passes, it would apply only to doctors licensed in good standing in Arizona and their patients, and last through the end of November.
Newsom joined the California Legislative Women's Caucus and advocates to announce the proposal. Golden State lawmakers called the Arizona law “draconian” and said California had an obligation to get involved.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announces a new bill that would allow Arizona doctors to perform abortions in California during a press conference in Sacramento, Calif. on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.Kate Wolffe/CapRadio
State Senator Nancy Skinner authored the bill, adding she couldn’t have written it without support. She thanked Arizona Attorney General Kris Mays, “because she had the courage to put out the call to neighboring states to support Arizona doctors and patients, and that's what we are responding to,” Skinner said at the press event Wednesday.
The bill would need to pass by a two-thirds vote in each house of the state Legislature before reaching Newsom’s desk. After he signs it, it would go into effect immediately.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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