Arizona, Idaho among states that saw action on abortion this week

By Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN

Anti-abortion advocates had a lot to celebrate this week, including the passage of what a Republican bill sponsor in Kentucky dubbed one of the “most significant” pieces of anti-abortion legislation “in a generation.”

Arizona’s Republican governor, meanwhile, signed into law a ban on most abortions after 15 weeks, similar to the Mississippi law currently before the US Supreme Court.

And in Idaho, abortion providers are suing to try and stop the state’s six-week ban on most abortions.

Arizona governor signs ban after 15 weeks

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey on Wednesday signed into law legislation that prohibits abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of medical emergency. The bill offers no exceptions for cases of rape and incest.

With Ducey’s signature, Arizona became the first state this year to enact a ban after 15 weeks, following the similar law Mississippi passed in 2018 that the US Supreme Court seems poised to uphold this year.

Republican lawmakers in Arizona had approved the bill last week, without support from Democrats.

The bill goes into effect 90 days after the Arizona legislative session ends.

Florida and Kentucky have passed similar 15-week abortion bans, which await action from their respective governors.

Kentucky sends sweeping abortion bill to governor’s desk

Kentucky’s GOP-majority legislature on Tuesday gave approval to a sweeping abortion bill that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, restrict access to medication abortion and make it more difficult for a minor to obtain an abortion in the state.

The bill was sent to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday, though it’s unclear how he will act. The governor has not committed to supporting any abortion bills in the legislature and told reporters last month that he believes “health care decisions should be between a patient and their doctor.”

Beshear can choose to sign the bill or allow the legislation to become law without signing it. If he were to veto the bill, however, Republicans have the majority to easily override him.

The bill would require that drugs used in a medication abortion be provided only by a qualified physician, which is someone licensed to practice medicine and in good standing in Kentucky. A number of requirements must be met before dispensing drugs, including an in-person examination and informing patients about the risks of using medication abortion drugs. The drugs also cannot be sent via mail.

Abortion providers sue to block Idaho’s six-week abortion ban

Abortion providers are suing to strike down Idaho’s six-week abortion ban, which was the first such bill signed into law this year that mimics a controversial Texas law.

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, the providers argued that the Idaho law violates several provisions of the state constitution and asked the state Supreme Court to intervene before the law goes into effect on April 22.

Like the Texas law, the Idaho measure outlaws abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected, which falls around six weeks into pregnancy, when many people do not yet know that they’re pregnant.

Also similar to Texas, Idaho’s law allows certain family members of the fetus to take legal action against the abortion provider or medical professional who violates the law — a provision of the law that Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little raised concerns about even as he signed the bill last week.

This new court fight comes as efforts to block Texas’ version of the law, which went into effect in September, have been unavailing in federal courts.

Maryland passes measure that would allow more abortion providers

Maryland’s Democratic-controlled legislature passed a bill that would expand access to abortion in the state, sending it to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s desk.

House Bill 937, titled the “Abortion Care Access Act,” would allow more health care professionals to perform an abortion procedure, rather than only a licensed physician. Under the bill, a “qualified provider” would include nurse practitioner, a midwife, physician assistant or any individual who’s licensed or certified to perform abortions in the state.

The measure would also set up a state program to train more and to diversify abortion providers and would require the governor to appropriate $3.5 million to the program annually.

The legislation would also require most health insurers and the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to cover abortion care services.

The bill would go into effect on July 1, while the bill’s insurance provisions would have to be met by January 2023.

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