The Arizona House of Representatives’ recent decision to pass a bill repealing a law that effectively bans almost all abortions has elicited a diverse range of responses from officials and stakeholders across the state.
House Bill 2677 was approved with a vote of 32-28, with all Democrats and three Republicans, namely Reps. Matt Gress, Tim Dunn, and Justin Wilmeth, in favor. Rep. Gress took the initiative on Wednesday to expedite the bill’s final vote in the chamber, bypassing the standard committee process.
Cathi Herrod, the president of the Center for Arizona Policy, expressed her sadness over the recent events in Arizona. She stated, “Today is a sad day for Arizona, as it not only hampers our efforts to protect unborn children, but also fails to safeguard the well-being of women when it comes to abortion.”
In a statement, Gress emphasized that the chamber took bipartisan action to repeal a territorial abortion law that is deemed unworkable and inconsistent with the values held by Arizonans. He further dismissed the false notion that respecting and protecting women is incompatible with defending the sanctity of new life.
During the floor session on Wednesday, both the Phoenix Republican and Democratic Rep. Oscar De Los Santos were taken off the committee on appropriations.
When asked about his decision to remove Gress from the committee, Speaker Ben Toma replied, “Cause I’ve decided to.” While Republicans in the House were considering potential ballot referrals, Toma stated that the next course of action is still being determined.
Meanwhile, numerous Democrats are expressing their support for the repeal.
Attorney General Kris Mayes expressed gratitude for the repeal of the 160-year-old near-total abortion ban in the Arizona House. In a statement, Mayes commended the decision, stating that the outdated law criminalized medical professionals for providing necessary care to their patients and jeopardized the well-being and lives of women in the state. Mayes emphasized that such a law had no place in the 21st century.
The Senate is expected to pass the bill, as both Democrats and Republican Sens. Shawnna Bolick and T.J. Shope have expressed their support for a repeal. These Republican senators have indicated a preference for the 15-week law enacted by former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in 2022. Additionally, a Senate version of the repeal bill underwent a second reading in the chamber on Wednesday.
Many Democrats who support it have expressed their backing for a proposed constitutional amendment that would permit abortion until the point of “fetal viability.” However, critics argue that this amendment might even allow abortions to be performed beyond that stage of pregnancy. The proposal is anticipated to be included in the November ballot for voters to make their decision.
The decision of the Arizona Supreme Court to lift the stay on the law has sparked both praise and criticism. This means that the law can now be enforced, limiting abortions to 15 weeks.
An Executive Order issued by Gov. Katie Hobbs is set to come into effect on June 8. However, it has been noted that this order limits the prosecutorial power on abortion matters exclusively to Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office. It is worth mentioning that Mayes has been openly vocal about his opposition to both abortion laws.
During a media availability on Thursday morning, Governor Katie Hobbs acknowledged that even if she signs a repeal bill, there will still be a 90-day waiting period after the session ends before it becomes effective.
Hobbs expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that the immediate enactment of the repeal is not feasible. He pointed out the potential gap between the repeal taking effect and the law being implemented. Hobbs remains optimistic that the courts will recognize this as a significant reason to maintain the stay. He shared these thoughts with reporters.
The legislative session concludes when the body successfully passes a budget, which must be done by June 30, the last day of the fiscal year.