Arizona doctors can now travel to California temporarily to provide abortion services for their patients, following the signing of a new law by Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday.
California’s initiative aims to offer Arizonans an option to access legal abortions from their own doctors in the coming months. This action was prompted by a recent decision from the Arizona Supreme Court to reinstate a law originally passed in 1864, which had not been enforced for many years. The reinstated law prohibits nearly all abortions in Arizona, including cases of rape or incest.
Since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, states have been allowed to establish their own abortion regulations. Over 20 states have since enacted various bans on abortion.
In Arizona, the timeline for enforcing the Civil War-era ban remains uncertain. However, California’s legislature, led by Democrats, chose to act swiftly to ensure residents’ access to abortion services.
Protestors clash with other protestors (Ash Starc/Getty Images)
Effective immediately, California’s new law permits licensed doctors from Arizona to travel to California and perform abortions for their patients until the end of November.
Although Arizona’s legislature voted to repeal the 1864 law and Governor Katie Hobbs signed it promptly, the repeal will not take effect until 90 days after the end of Arizona’s legislative session, typically in June or July. Currently, Arizona law allows abortions up to 15 weeks of pregnancy.
To perform abortions in California, licensed Arizona doctors must submit an application, which, if they meet specific criteria, California regulators are directed to approve within five business days.
