Gavin Newsom, governor of California, during The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, Texas, US, on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. In its thirteenth year, the Festival features more than 300 speakers from the worlds of politics, public policy, technology and media. Photographer: Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg via Getty Images
IKDR! California continues to lead the nation’s fight for reproductive health care access and privacy. Governor Gavin Newsom has been on a roll signing more bills left and right. He is shaking the table as he implements positive changes to benefit women seeking an abortion.
According to his official website, he signed additional bills into law to further protect people from legal retaliation and prohibit law enforcement and corporations from cooperating with out-of-state entities regarding lawful abortions in California. In addition to expanding access to contraception and abortion providers in California.
In a statement, Governor Newsom said,
“An alarming number of states continue to outlaw abortion and criminalize women, and it’s more important than ever to fight like hell for those who need these essential services. We’re doing everything we can to protect people from any retaliation for accessing abortion care while also making it more affordable to get contraceptives.”
He added, “Our Legislature has been on the frontlines of this fight, and no other legislative body in the country is doing more to protect these fundamental rights – I’m proud to stand with them again and sign these critical bills into law.”
It’s a lot in the package, so we’ll break it down, Roomies!
Reports show Bill AB 2223 helps to ensure that pregnancy loss is not criminalized, prohibiting a person from being criminally or civilly liable for miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, or perinatal death due to causes that occurred in utero. Bill 2091 prohibits a health care provider from releasing medical information on an individual seeking abortion care in response to a subpoena or request from out-of-state.
Bill AB 1242 prohibits law enforcement and California corporations from cooperating with out-of-state entities regarding a lawful abortion in California. It also prohibits law enforcement from knowingly arresting a person for aiding in a lawful abortion in California. SB 523 expands birth control access – regardless of gender or insurance coverage status – by requiring health plans to cover specific over-the-counter birth control without cost sharing. It also prohibits employment-related discrimination based on reproductive health decisions.
Lastly, SB 1375 expands training options for Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nurse-Midwives to perform abortion care by aspiration techniques. Governor Newsom is standing ten toes down beside women. If you recall, he previously signed SB 245 to eliminate cost-sharing for abortion services and AB 1666, which seeks to protect those in California from civil liability for providing, aiding, or receiving abortion care in the state.
Roommates, you can expect more changes in California as Governor Newsom has to sign or veto over 500 more bills before September 30th.
