Democratic Governors Sign Historic Legislation to Mark One-Year Dobbs Anniversary

Democratic Governors Sign Historic Legislation to Mark One-Year Dobbs Anniversary

On the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s overturning of the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, several Democratic Governors across the country have continued their fight for reproductive freedom – from signing key legislation to issuing executive orders – to continue to protect abortion access in states across the country.

Last week, the DGA released a memo detailing how Democratic governors have gone on offense in the fight to protect reproductive freedom for millions of Americans, and how that fight is far from over.

Key new examples of Democratic governors fighting to protect reproductive rights in the last few days, includes:

• In Arizona, Governor Katie Hobbs issued an executive order “limiting abortion-related prosecutions” to help protect patients and providers in and out of state. The order also establishes the “Governor’s Advisory Council on Protecting Reproductive Freedom,” to “expand access to sexual and reproductive freedom health care in Arizona.”
• In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation into law that strengthens “access to reproductive health care” and protects “patients and doctors who require abortion care through telehealth services.” The legislation allows doctors to care for patients out of state where reproductive health care may be limited, and protects them from prosecution.
• In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey and state representatives met with Health Imperatives to discuss a grant the organization received “from the Department of Public Health that will make medical abortions directly available” for the first time. Scheduled to start July 3, the grant increases access to essential healthcare, meaning “southeastern Massachusetts will no longer be considered an abortion desert.”

“In a year since the Dobbs decision upended access to essential health care for millions of Americans, Democratic Governors across the country have not stopped fighting for reproductive freedom, and never will,” said DGA Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper. “While the attacks continue, Democratic governors aren’t backing down, and are finding new ways to protect patients and providers. It has never been more important to live in a state with a Democratic governor, and we will continue to elect and reelect governors committed to protecting our rights.”

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