Newsom signs California law allowing Arizona doctors to perform abortions in neighboring state

California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an unprecedented abortion law on Thursday that allows Arizona abortion providers to perform the procedure if they travel to California to do so.

The bill was proposed by Newsom last month, after Arizona's Supreme Court ruled that a near-total abortion ban in the state from 1864 was constitutional. The near-total ban has since been repealed through the state's legislature. California's bill was approved by the state Senate on Tuesday, clearing the last hurdle before the governor signed it, according to The Hill.

The new law expedites the application process for Arizona doctors that are trying to cross state lines to perform the abortions. Under the new law, if licensed Arizona doctors meet certain requirements then California regulators must approve their application within five business days.

“Arizona Republicans tried to turn back the clock to 1864 to impose a near-total abortion ban across their state. We refuse to stand by and acquiesce to their oppressive and dangerous attacks on women,” Newsom wrote in a statement. "California stands ready to protect reproductive freedom.” 

California is considered an abortion "sanctuary state" because the state protects individuals that seek abortions in California from legal and law enforcement action due to other states’ abortion laws. Newsom also allocated $200 million to expand abortion and contraceptive access, including $20 million to fund people's out-of-state travel to California for the purpose of abortions, CBS News reported.

Although Arizona repealed its 19th century abortion law, a 15-week ban still remains in place. The ban outlaws all abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, except to save the life of the mother. But some critics of ban argue that there should be exceptions for rape and incest. 

Arizona's strict abortion law could still go into effect before the repeal takes place. The repeal does not go into effect until 90 days after the state legislature wraps up its current session, but the near-total abortion ban could go into effect as soon as June 27. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.