Ahead of signing a bill repealing Arizona’s total abortion ban, which was first passed in 1864, Gov. Katie Hobbs warned that work continues for supporters of abortion rights.
“While I'm proud to sign this bill and provide a moment of relief for Arizonans, we still have work to do,” the Democrat said. “Arizona women are still governed by a ban that leaves no exceptions for rape or incest, nor does it account for complications during pregnancy. We do not have guarantees that the basic right to contraception or access to IVF are protected, even as threats mount.
“Today, we should not rest, but we should recommit to protecting women's bodily autonomy, their ability to make their own health care decisions, and the ability to control their lives.”
A proposed constitutional amendment to expand abortion rights in the state seems likely to appear on the general election ballot in November. It would create a “fundamental right” for Arizonans to get abortion care up until fetal viability — or about the 24th week of pregnancy.
The repealed total abortion ban would have been one of the most restrictive in the nation, prohibiting all abortions except to save the life of the woman. The total ban became a possibility — and a potential political liability for Republicans — when the state Supreme Court revived it in an April 9 ruling. The ruling did not take effect immediately due to a legal stay, but it was set to become law no earlier than June 27, according to the state attorney general’s office.
Now, the repeal heads off that possibility: When the repeal goes into effect this summer, abortion will be legal for the first 15 weeks of pregnancy in Arizona.
