The Arizona House of Representatives has approved a measure to repeal the state’s near-total ban on abortion, clearing the first hurdle in a legislative battle that has drawn national attention.
The 1864 law, which was unenforced for decades, was revived by a state court ruling in September following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The law criminalizes abortion in all cases except when the life of the pregnant person is at risk.
The repeal effort has been led by Democrats, who have argued that the law is unconstitutional and out of step with public opinion. Three Republicans joined all 29 Democrats in supporting the repeal, a sign of growing discomfort within the GOP over the issue of abortion.
If the repeal bill passes the Senate, it will head to Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who supports abortion rights. Hobbs has said she will sign the bill into law.
The vote in the House came after weeks of intense debate and pressure from both sides of the issue. Anti-abortion activists have held rallies and lobbied lawmakers to keep the ban in place, while abortion rights supporters have organized protests and urged lawmakers to repeal the law.
The repeal effort is part of a broader push by Democrats to protect abortion rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision. Several other states have passed laws to protect or expand abortion access, and voters in some states have approved ballot measures to do the same.
The Arizona House vote is a significant victory for abortion rights supporters, but the battle is far from over. The bill still faces a vote in the Senate, where Republicans hold a majority. If the bill passes the Senate, it will head to Governor Hobbs, who has said she will sign it into law.
Even if the repeal bill is signed into law, the fight over abortion in Arizona is likely to continue. Anti-abortion activists have vowed to challenge the law in court, and they are also working to pass a ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
The Arizona House vote is a sign of the growing divide in the country over the issue of abortion. The debate is likely to continue in the courts, in state legislatures, and on the campaign trail for years to come.
