In the wake of the enactment of Proposition 139, Arizona’s atorney general says she will not defend the legality of abortion restrictions on the books that are being challenged.
Kris Mayes says her office has reviewed three laws being challenged by the Center for Reproductive Rights and others. Some of the restrictions include a 24-hour waiting period and a prohibition on prescribing abortion inducing drugs over telemedicine.
Mayes says she believes those rules run afoul of the new law approved by voters last year.
"We have determined that the three laws that the plaintiffs are challenging here are unconstitutional and cannot withstand tests that the voters stood up when they amended the constitution to protect abortion rights," Mayes said.
Arizona’s Speaker House Steve Montenegro said he will seek to defend the old laws.
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The case involves state laws that ban certain advanced practice clinicians like specially trained nurse practitioners from providing abortion services — something they’ve historically done. -
The Trump administration has launched an online resource hub for new and expectant mothers. The majority of pregnancy centers that the website recommends in Arizona do not offer abortion services. -
Arizona voters approved adding constitutional protections for abortion rights in 2024. But that hasn’t stopped state lawmakers from taking up the issue in various forms since that time. -
State lawmakers are moving to make criminals out of doctors and pharmacists who send abortion-inducing drugs to Arizona women — as well as those who seek them — but questions remain over whether the bill is constitutional. -
Planned Parenthood Arizona is offering new services and has seen an uptick in patients after a February ruling blocking many abortion restrictions in the state.
