United States – Arizona Senate is expected to vote on a bill on Wednesday that would dismantle the almost two centuries old 1864 law that prohibited abortion in the state. The anti-abortion law may be in effect within the next couple of weeks until it is vetoed.
Bipartisan Support in State Legislature
The Arizona House passed the measure last week, with a few Republicans breaking party lines and joining Democrats in the Senate. The bill seems to have enough votes to pass the upper house even with the GOP’s narrow 16-14 majority, as reported by Reuters.
The proposal, once passed, will directly go to Democratic governor Katie Hobbs, who has already announced signing it.
Battleground in the Fight for Reproductive Rights
The battle over a ban on abortion in the Great War era in Arizona, which is split into the Democratic and Republican factions, is the most recent flame in the United States dealing with women’s reproductive rights. In 2022, the US Supreme Court stopped the constitutional right to abortion, which now left the states in decision-making rather than the central government. States with conservative majoritys immediately installed stringent bans on infanticide in their territories.
In a country that is clearly in favor of abortion rights, the Democratic candidates from all over the nation have made it a point to further elevate the issue for the presidential election come November. Arizona comes as a significant battleground state.
Legal Landscape and Democratic Opposition
The 1864 law was reinstated by the Supreme Court’s ruling on April 9. This may be the case if the legislature doesn’t intervene; thus, this law might go into effect two months after the ruling. This is what the state Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, said.
Implications for Arizona and Beyond
The Democratic Party may be able to get the ban lifted but would still see abortion surrounded by limitations. In 2022, the state of Arizona saw the law enactment that allows abortion to be performed only after 15 gestational weeks, as reported by Reuters.
Arizona Democrats vow to remain vigilant in their attempts to secure a proposition that could give back abortion rights to voters for the upcoming November elections.