Consider Jury Nullification - AZ Republicans advance 'backdoor abortion ban' despite voter-approved protections

Last year, Arizonans took away the ability of lawmakers to restrict abortion. Now, Republicans are trying to prohibit any doctor in the state from ever mentioning the procedure as an option for their patients, in what critics are calling a “backdoor abortion ban.”

Both state and federal law already bar most abortions from being paid for with public funds. Only procedures performed in rape or incest cases or to save a woman’s life are covered with federal money under Medicaid.

But the sweeping change to state law would forbid the state and any of its political subdivisions, including state agencies and cities, from entering into contracts with or awarding grants to any person or facility that provides or “promotes” abortions. That would eliminate Medicaid funding to any hospital, health care facility or doctor who sees AHCCCS patients — virtually every health care provider in Arizona — if they so much as tell a pregnant patient about abortions.

House Bill 2547 flies in the face of the constitutional amendment voters approved last year. In November, 62% of Arizonans voted to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution via Proposition 139. Along with making the procedure a fundamental right, the initiative also explicitly prohibited the passage or enforcement of any law that infringes on a woman’s ability to obtain an abortion unless that law’s intent is to improve or maintain her health, is rooted in evidence-based medicine, and preserves her autonomous decision-making.

https://azmirror.com/2025/03/20/republicans-advance-backdoor-abortion-ban-despite-voter-approved-protections/