Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice California Applauds Legislature Democrats for Advancing Reproductive Freedom Agenda
Sacramento — Last week, Democrats in the California State Senate and State Assembly advanced out of their original chambers a host of reproductive freedom bills. These bills would enact protections for providers, LGBTQ+ families, medication abortion, and more.
NARAL Pro-Choice America Senior National Political Director Ryan Stitzlein released the following statement in response:
“California’s commitment to reproductive freedom has made it the gold standard—and we are thrilled to see the Democrats in the state legislature continue that tradition. Spearheaded by our champions, these critical pieces of legislation will protect providers and the LGBTQ+ community, while also expanding access to medication abortion and fertility treatments. We look forward to continued collaboration with state lawmakers to ensure these are signed into law.”
Additional background on NARAL Pro-Choice California’s 2023 sponsored bills:
Senate Bill 345, authored by Senator Nancy Skinner, provides additional protections to providers who prescribe or dispense medication abortion, provide other reproductive health care services, or provide gender-affirming care to patients, regardless of where the patient is located. Additionally, it would expand California’s reproductive freedom state protections by prohibiting bail agents or private bounty hunters from capturing people in CA after they have fled their home state to avoid criminalization of abortion or gender-affirming care.
Senate Bill 729, authored by Senator Caroline Menjivar, requires health plans to provide coverage for fertility care, including treatment for infertility and in vitro fertilization (IVF), and ensures that LGBTQ+ couples are not unfairly excluded from coverage.
Assembly Bill 571, authored by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, increases the number of licensed health care providers who are able to provide abortion and gender-affirming care in California by ensuring providers in the state have access to professional liability insurance without facing discrimination based on being a provider of these services.
Assembly Bill 576, authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, expands access to medication abortion by requiring the Department of Health Care Services to fully reimburse providers for the provision of medication abortion in alignment with clinical guidelines, evidence-based research, and the discretion of the provider.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters have fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom—including access to abortion, contraception, and paid family leave—for everybody. NARAL is powered by its more than 2.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 7 in 10 Americans who believe every person should have the freedom to make the best decision for themselves about if, when, and how to raise a family.