Emergency abortion care legislation in California sparks online conversation

This week, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced emergency legislation that will permit physicians from Arizona to provide reproductive health care—including abortion care—in California. This announcement came after Arizona's Supreme Court voted to uphold a law from 1864 that bans all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest, unless the pregnant person’s life is threatened. In response to the announcement, some social media users are calling the emergency legislation “murder,” while others are criticizing Newsom for failing to use the word “abortion” in his announcement.

Recommendation:Articles and social media posts about California’s emergency legislation may cause confusion about current abortion laws in Arizona and California. Messaging may emphasize that the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling is not currently enforceable, so abortion at up to 15 weeks of pregnancy is still legal in the state, and that it is legal to travel out of state for an abortion. Staying up to date on trending narratives and preparing for questions about abortion laws in your state—as well as ensuring that FAQ sheets and public-facing websites are updated with the latest information about local abortion laws—is recommended.