After weeks of debate following the Arizona Supreme Court’s approval of a near-total 1864 abortion ban, the Senate repealed the law this afternoon with hardly a vote to spare. Two Republican Senators voted with Dems, which made the tally 16-14. The vote in the House last week was nearly as close: 32-28.
The Arizona Senate on Wednesday finalized repealing a near-total abortion ban that the state Supreme Court ruled earlier this month trumps a 15-week restriction that was implemented in 2022.
But that doesn’t mean the 1864 abortion ban won’t go into effect — or that it will be repealed quickly, even though legislation to do so has now passed both legislative chambers.
Gov. Katie Hobbs has said she’ll sign the repeal as soon as it lands on her desk, but even after she does the current ban will not end. The repeal will take effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session but it’s not clear when that will be because they’re still trying to pass a budget, and I have little doubt some of those bozos will try to attach abortion-related amendments to the spending bills (they tried some phony baloney BS like that during today’s debate but were silenced).
In the meantime, AG Kris Mayes has asked the Arizona Supreme Court to pause implementation of the 1864 law they approved but there’s little indication they will do that. That might leave a gap of time when the 1864 law would go into effect, but AG Mayes says she will not prosecute women or doctors during that period, and Gov. Hobbs signed an executive action that gives the AG that authority.
Onward to November, when Dems will flip the Legislature, defeat two of the Supreme Court justices who approved the 1864 law, and pass a referendum enshrining reproductive rights in the State Constitution.