(The Center Square) – The Arizona House of Representatives’ move to narrowly pass a bill that would repeal a law banning nearly all abortions triggered a wide range of reactions from officials and stakeholders statewide.
House Bill 2677 passed 32-28, which all Democrats and three Republicans – Reps. Matt Gress, Tim Dunn and Justin Wilmeth – voting in favor. Gress made the motion on Wednesday to bring the bill immediately up for a final vote in the chamber, instead of going through the usual committee process.
“So today’s a sad day for Arizona, but it’s especially a sad day for protecting the lives of unborn children and the protecting women from the harms of abortion,” Cathi Herrod, president for Center of Arizona Policy, told The Center Square.
Gress said in a statement that the chamber “acted on a bipartisan basis” to repeal a “territorial abortion law that is unworkable and out of line with the values of Arizonans.” He added there is a “false notion” that “we cannot respect and protect women and defend new life at the same time.”
However, the Phoenix Republican and Democratic Rep. Oscar De Los Santos were removed from the committee on appropriations following the floor session on Wednesday.
“’Cause I’ve decided to,” Speaker Ben Toma said when asked by The Center Square about his decision to remove Gress, who was Ducey’s former budget director, from the committee. Republicans in the House were also considering possible ballot referrals, but Toma said on Wednesday that the next steps are still being worked out.
Meanwhile, many Democrats are applauding the repeal.
“I am grateful that sanity prevailed in the Arizona House today with the repeal of the draconian, near-total 1864 abortion ban,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement. “That 160 year-old-law that criminalizes doctors and nurses for caring for their patients and endangers the lives and health of women across our state has no place in the 21st century.”
The bill is now expected to pass the Senate, as Democrats and Republican Sens. Shawnna Bolick and T.J. Shope have said they support a repeal. Those Republicans have voiced a preference for the 15-week law signed by former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey in 2022. A Senate version of the repeal bill had a second read in the chamber on Wednesday as well.
Many Democrats in favor have voiced support for a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow abortion up to “fetal viability,” and some opponents to the amendment suggest it could open the door to further than that in pregnancy. Ultimately, the proposal is expected to make the ballot in November for voters to decide.
The Arizona Supreme Court received a mix of praise and criticism following their decision earlier this month to allow a stay to be lifted on the law, meaning it can be enforced over a 15-week law.
It is expected to take effect June 8, but an Executive Order from Gov. Katie Hobbs limits the prosecutorial power on abortion matters to only Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office, who has been vocally opposed to both abortion laws.
In a media availability on Thursday morning, Gov. Katie Hobbs addressed the fact that even if a repeal bill get signed by her, there will still be a 90-day wait after session ends before it would come to fruition.
“Unfortunately, it’s not possible to get this repeal enacted right away, and so there might be a gap between when the repeal takes effect and when the law is in effect. So you know, I’m hopeful the courts will see this as a compelling reason to keep the stay in place,” Hobbs told reporters.
The close of the legislative session coincides with when the body passes a budget, which has a deadline of the last day of the fiscal year – June 30.
