Here’s the latest news today out of California:
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday that immediately protects abortion providers in California from liability when caring for patients traveling from areas where the procedure is now banned or access is narrowed.
Assembly Bill 1666 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) will protect providers and patients in California from civil liability judgements based on claims made in antiabortion states. It further cements the state’s efforts to be a “beacon of hope” in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade.
Newsom said the law will push back against Republican states that allow private lawsuits against abortion providers and patients. Last year, Texas passed a law that allows private citizens to sue anyone who “aids or abets” an abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy.
“We will in no way shape or form, support, enable, investigate, resource, any of those activities or energies,” Newsom said, adding that the new law is part of a larger package of more than a dozen bills aimed at providing “true sanctuary” for those seeking or providing abortions in the state.
California has been preparing for months for the likelihood that thousands of people would travel to the state from areas of the country where bans are resurrected for the first time since 1973. Various bills and budget proposals are in the works, calling for millions to be set aside for abortion services for the uninsured, workforce programs to increase the number of providers and to assist patients with the cost of traveling from other states.
Health and Democracy are on the ballot this year and let’s get ready to keep California Blue. Click below to donate and get involved with Newsom and his fellow California Democrats campaigns:
Gavin Newsom for Governor
Eleni Kounalakis for Lt. Governor
Karen Bass for Los Angeles Mayor
Robert Luna for Los Angeles Sheriff
Kermit Jones for Congress
Adam Gray for Congress
Rudy Salas for Congress
Christy Smith for Congress
Asif Mahmood for Congress
Will Rollins for Congress
Robert Garcia for Congress
Jay Chen for Congress
Katie Porter for Congress
Rob Bonta for Attorney General
Shirley Weber for Secretary of State
Malia Cohen for Controller