Phoenix, AZ – SB1164, a dangerous 15-week abortion ban bill, passed the House floor today and will now head to the Governor’s desk. The ACLU of Arizona urges Gov. Doug Ducey to consider the diverse circumstances, beliefs, and experiences of all pregnant people in Arizona and veto this extreme legislation.
“Decisions about if and when to become a parent or have more children should be made by individuals, with support from their doctor and loved ones as needed,” said Jennifer Allen, executive director of the ACLU of Arizona. “Often, people discover their pregnancy later in gestation or must make the difficult decision to end a wanted pregnancy due to new information about the health of the mother or fetus after 15 weeks. Taking options off the table for pregnant people —regardless of their reason for seeking an abortion — is an egregious attack on their bodily autonomy. We urge Governor Ducey to veto SB1164.”
SB1164 is a near-exact copy of the Mississippi ban at the center of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, a case currently under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court. This case directly challenges the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, which established the constitutional right to an abortion in 1973. Lawmakers across the country have capitalized on this opportunity to attempt a nationwide attack on reproductive rights, and the impact will be felt in Arizona if this 15-week abortion ban is signed into law.
“This bill serves no one except anti-choice politicians who want to take away essential healthcare from thousands of Arizonans who need it,” said Darrell Hill, policy director for the ACLU of Arizona. “Banning abortion care at 15 weeks of gestation will only create more disparities between those who have the resources and support to travel outside of our state and those who do not. SB1164 will force people into unwanted, life-threatening situations and prevent them from making the best decisions for themselves and their families.”
