Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice California Calls on State Legislators to Pass NARAL- Endorsed Reproductive Freedom Bills
For Immediate Release: April 11, 2023
Contact: [email protected]
Sacramento, CA — NARAL Pro-Choice California is sponsoring five priority bills in the 2023 legislative session and plans to score more than 30 bills in its Reproductive Freedom Legislative Scorecard. These efforts would protect reproductive freedom and protect and expand abortion access in the state.
NARAL Pro-Choice California Director Shannon Oliveri Hovis released the following statement:
“California continues to lead the way as we work to protect our fundamental freedoms against a backdrop of unprecedented attacks nationally by anti-choice extremists. Our sponsored legislation this year protects California providers, strengthens safe haven protections for people who are forced to flee anti-choice states, and helps Californians access fertility and infertility treatments. NARAL Pro-Choice California and our more than 371,000 members applaud our reproductive freedom champions in the legislature, and call on state leaders to pass these bills.”
NARAL Pro-Choice California 2023 Sponsored Bills:
Senate Bill 36 – Senator Nancy Skinner
SB 36 protects people in California from bail agents or private bounty hunters after they have fled their home state to avoid criminalization of abortion or gender-affirming care. The bill also protects access to public benefits for those seeking refuge in California.
Senate Bill 345 – Senator Nancy Skinner
SB 345 provides additional protections to providers who prescribe or dispense medication abortion, provide other reproductive healthcare services, or provide gender-affirming care to patients, regardless of where the patient is located.
Senate Bill 729 – Senator Caroline Menjivar
SB 729 requires health plans to provide coverage for fertility care, including treatment for infertility and in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Assembly Bill 571 – Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris
AB 571 increases the number of licensed health care providers who are able to provide abortion and gender-affirming care in California by ensuring California providers have access to professional liability insurance without discrimination.
Assembly Bill 576 – Assemblymember Akilah Weber
AB 576 expands access to medication abortion by requiring the Department of Health Care Services to fully reimburse providers for providing medication abortion that aligns with clinical guidelines, evidence-based research, and the discretion of the provider.
The full list of NARAL Pro-Choice California priority bills for the 2023 legislative session can be found here.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for everybody. NARAL is powered by its 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.