Arizona Legislature Votes to Repeal Civil War-Era Abortion Ban
15-week abortion ban passed in 2022 will become prevailing abortion law in the state.
5.01.2024 (PRESS STATEMENT) — Today, the Arizona Senate joined the Arizona House and voted to repeal the state’s controversial 1864 total abortion ban, which had been ruled enforceable last month. The ban allows for abortion care only to save the patient’s life and provides no exceptions for rape or incest. In last month’s ruling, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the ban could be enforced against doctors and helpers. The ban’s penalties include two to five years in prison.
However, if signed by the Arizona governor, the repeal of the 1864 law won’t take effect until 90 days after the end of the Arizona legislative session, which is likely to end in June or July. Consequently, the repeal will not go into effect until September or October. This means that per last month’s Arizona Supreme Court ruling, the 1864 ban is still set to go into effect in June, but will only be active until today’s repeal goes into effect in September or October.
Once the 1864 ban’s repeal goes into effect later this year, the 15-week ban will once again be the abortion law in Arizona.
Elisabeth Smith, director of state policy and advocacy the Center for Reproductive Rights:
“Frankly, this was the only reasonable outcome. This law was written before Arizona became a state and when only white men could vote. It was written before penicillin was invented – such an antiquated law should never apply to modern health care. Thank you to every Arizona legislator who supported pregnant people, their families, and communities by repealing this draconian law.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Center for Reproductive Rights: [email protected]