Arizona is on the verge of repealing a long-standing Civil War-era ban on nearly all abortions as a repeal bill awaits the signature of Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. The repeal, set to be signed on Thursday, marks the beginning of a battle to safeguard reproductive healthcare in the state. However, the repeal may not take effect until 90 days after the legislative session concludes, potentially in June or July. Abortion rights advocates are hopeful that a court intervention will prevent any delays.
The repeal effort secured final legislative approval in a 16-14 Senate vote, with two GOP lawmakers crossing party lines to join Democrats. The emotional and intense debate in the Senate included vivid descriptions of abortion procedures, audio recordings of fetal heartbeats, and warnings against legislating based on religious beliefs.
