Gavin Newsom announces plan for Arizonans to get abortions in California

SACRAMENTO, California — Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to propose legislation to make it easier for Arizonans to seek abortions in his neighboring state of California.

The proposal would offer Arizona abortion providers an expedited way to get licensed in California to perform the procedure for their patients, Newsom’s office told POLITICO ahead of the governor’s announcement on MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki” airing Sunday.

Newsom’s move comes in direct response to the Arizona Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold an 1864 ban on abortion in that state, and he plans to present the bill as an emergency measure this week with the California Legislative Women's Caucus. California is anticipating a wave of more patients to arrive from Arizona, and would need help from doctors from that state to treat them. Newsom said he hopes to have the law in place by May 1.

“Arizona AG Kris Mayes identified a need to expedite the ability for Arizona abortion providers to continue to provide care to Arizonans as a way to support patients in their state seeking abortion care in California,” Newsom spokesperson Brandon Richards told POLITICO in a statement. “We are responding to this call and will have more details to share in the coming days.”

Newsom hopes it would take as little as five to 10 days for Arizona providers to be approved in California if his bill passes. The governor’s office did not provide further details on the legislation, including which legislator would introduce it or how he expects to get it through the state Legislature before lawmakers take a recess for the summer.

State policymakers have been preparing for an influx of patients from other parts of the country coming to California for abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the national right to abortions in 2022.

California’s Legislature passed dozens of laws aimed at expanding access to abortions in 2022 and 2023, including enhanced privacy and legal protections for both patients and doctors and more robust insurance coverage for the procedure.

Newsom also pledged $200 million to go toward reproductive health care, allocating funds for security at clinics, training for new providers, and assistance for people who need to travel for their appointments.

But the state has also struggled to build new clinics and train new providers. The governor’s office believes allowing doctors from Arizona to treat patients across the border could help ease the strain.