Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed a new law on Thursday that allows licensed doctors from Arizona to temporarily come to California to perform abortions for their patients. This law is in response to a ban on nearly all abortions in Arizona that was set to take effect following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. While Arizona has since repealed the ban, it will not take effect until September, leaving a gap where most abortions would be banned in the state. The California law will be in effect until the end of November, allowing Arizona patients to still access legal abortions.
California has taken a stance opposite to many other states following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, with Governor Newsom declaring the state a “sanctuary” for people seeking abortions. California has passed numerous laws to protect abortion access, including allocating $20 million in taxpayer money to assist patients from other states in traveling to California for abortions. The new law signed by Newsom on Thursday does not provide additional funding for Arizona patients to travel to California for abortions but rather seeks to raise private donations through partnerships with advocacy groups.
The advocacy group Red Wine and Blue, launched by the Arizona Freedom Trust and based in Ohio, is working with Governor Newsom to raise funds to help Arizona patients travel to California for abortions. They have raised over $111,000 toward their goal of $500,000. While Democrats in the California Legislature moved quickly to pass the law allowing Arizona doctors to perform abortions in the state, some Republicans questioned the necessity of the law. Despite Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signing an executive order last year to bar local prosecutors from bringing abortion-related charges, Democrats felt that a law was a stronger form of protection.
State Senator Nancy Skinner, the bill’s author and a Democrat from Berkeley, emphasized the importance of California’s support for reproductive rights. The law requires Arizona doctors to inform California regulators of where they will be performing abortions in the state but prohibits the publication of any additional information aside from the doctor’s name, status, and license number on the regulators’ website. Newsom and his Democratic allies in the state Legislature believe that passing this law was crucial in ensuring continued access to essential reproductive care for those in need. The swift action taken by California in response to the ban on abortions in Arizona reflects the state’s commitment to protecting reproductive freedom.
