Two states pass abortion-related legislation
California expands access while Louisiana limits it
Two states have passed or enacted laws that will affect abortion care in their region.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Thursday that will allow Arizona doctors to provide abortions in California.
Lawmakers in the state had sought to provide relief in the wake of Arizona’s supreme court upholding an 1864 ban on abortions in nearly all circumstances. The Arizona legislature has since repealed that ban, though another one is currently in place that limits abortions past 15 weeks.
“Arizona Republicans tried to turn back the clock to 1864 to impose a near-total abortion ban across their state. We refuse to stand by and acquiesce to their oppressive and dangerous attacks on women,” Newsom said. “I’m grateful for the California Legislative Women’s Caucus and all our partners for moving quickly to provide this backstop. California stands ready to protect reproductive freedom.”
In Louisiana, the state legislature went the opposite direction and limited access by making possession of abortion medication without a prescription a felony offense that can lead to 10 years in prison. More than 200 doctors published a letter expressing concerns about the bill.
Sen. Thomas Pressly, who sponsored the bill, spoke about it on a local television station. He had sought to pass it after his sister had been allegedly given abortion medication against her will by someone who wanted to force her to end a pregnancy. Pressly later said he worked with Louisiana Right to Life to craft the bill.
“If abortion is illegal in Louisiana, regardless of what happens with this legislation, and these pills cannot be used for an abortion in Louisiana, what we're trying to do is make sure they're not put in the hands of bad actors and criminals that are trying to take advantage of pregnant women,” Pressly told the reporter.