By The newspaper
May 1, 2024, 7:06 PM EDT
Arizona Senate lawmakers voted Wednesday to repeal the 1864 abortion ban, advancing the bill so Gov. Katie Hobbs can sign it. The state could maintain the measure with a 15-week limit that was enacted in 2022.
During the session that the Arizona senators had, they began the vote in which two Republicans joined together to obtain the votes 16 to 14 and thus be able to repeal the law that was established in the Civil War.
The bill to repeal the almost total ban on abortion of 1864 passed first through the House of Representatives, where it obtained 32 votes in favor and 28 against.
“It is essential to protect women’s health”
The bill will now go to Gov. Katie Hobbs, who had asked the Legislature to repeal the pre-statehood ban.
“I am glad to see that the Senate responded to my call and voted to repeal the complete abortion ban of 1864,” Governor Hobbs said in a statement.
“While this is essential to protecting women’s health, it is just the beginning. “I will never stop fighting for women’s reproductive freedoms,” she added.
Arizona State Attorney General Kris Mayes called the vote “a victory for freedom in our state,” AZ Family reported.
As soon as Arizona’s governor signs the repeal bill, a 2022 statute banning the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy would become the current abortion law in Arizona.
Notably, the repeal will not take effect until 90 days after the end of the legislative session, and could be in June or July.
Two Republicans voted in favor
Republican senators TJ Shope and Shawnna Bolick, who voted in favor, received criticism from their colleagues, the Los Angeles Time said.
“Our Democratic colleagues, who are very good at sticking together…vote together,” said Sen. Dave Farnsworth. “Unfortunately, on this side of the aisle we’re not as good at doing that.”
American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona (ACLU) Director Victoria Lopez told AZ Family.
“We are relieved that lawmakers have finally repealed this inhumane abortion ban, something extremist politicians have refused to do for far too long.”
“Unfortunately, cruel abortion bans like the 1864 law have been at the center of political stunts for years, causing lasting harm to people who need abortions and their providers,” he said.
Democrats have considered abortion a central issue of President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, especially in swing states. For their part, Republicans have said they are considering including the abortion issue on the November election ballot.
With information from AZ Family
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