SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers are busy working this week to stitch together the language of a bill that would provide a pathway for Arizona abortion providers who serve Arizona clients in California.

The bill would be another foray by the governor in a series of reproductive health measures that he has signed into law — with Democrats in the majority in both houses — to cement the Golden State’s image as a sanctuary for women to freely exercise their right to choose.

A new bill would extend the streak of abortion-related bills in the last few years, positioning California as a bulwark for reproductive rights against red states, several of which are further tightening restrictions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Newsom is putting his stamp on the upcoming legislation expected to drop this week. With it, the governor continues to thrust himself on the forefront of national issues, taking progressive positions on hot-button topics, especially abortion, sending a continuous stream of messaging to voters on where he stands. Polls have shown a majority of Americans, including those in states with strict abortion limits, say abortion should be legal with some restrictions.

New bill expected

Since the deadline for introducing new bills for the 2023-24 session of the California Legislature passed in February, the language of what the governor would like lawmakers to consider and approve will have to be woven as an amendment into an existing bill currently winding its way through the legislative process.

In an interview on national television over the weekend, Newsom revealed that he was working with lawmakers to move swiftly on legislation to counter the Arizona Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding a 160-year-old abortion ban.

Following the court’s ruling, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, called it “unconscionable and an affront to freedom,” saying in a statement that “as long as I am Attorney General, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law in this state.”

Newsom wants to help.

He is focused on “providing doctors from Arizona the ability to come into California through emergency legislation we’ll introduce with our Women’s Caucus this week,” the governor said in his televised weekend interview.

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