Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs on Thursday signed a repeal of a 160-year-old law that outlawed most abortions in the state.
“Today, we are doing what 23 governors and 55 legislatures refused to do, and I’m so proud to be the ones that got this job done,” Hobbs said at the bill signing ceremony, one day after the repeal measure cleared the Republican-controlled state Senate in a 16-14 vote.
“I’m proud to sign this bill and provide a moment of relief for Arizonans,” she added. “We still have work to do.”
Under Arizona law, the repeal won’t go into effect until 90 days after the end of the legislative session, which is expected to occur in June or July.
As a result, the long-dormant law — expected to go into effect in June — could remain on the books until November.
It would supersede the state’s current 15-week abortion ban.
The centuries-old law set off a firestorm after the state Supreme Court ordered officials to enforce it last month in light of the Supreme Court’s June 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade.
The pre-statehood law makes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, and the state Supreme Court suggested that doctors could be prosecuted for performing abortions once it goes into effect.
Abortion rights advocates in Arizona say they have gathered enough signatures to place a ballot measure amending the state constitution on Nov. 5 of this year.
“Today, we should not rest, but we should recommit to protecting women’s bodily autonomy, their ability to make their own healthcare decisions, and the ability to control their lives,” Hobbs said.
“Let me be clear: I will do everything in my power to protect our reproductive freedoms, because I trust women to make the decisions that are best for them, and know politicians do not belong in the doctor’s office.”
