Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice Nevada Celebrates as State Legislature Passes Legislation Protecting Abortion Providers and Out-Of-State Patients
For Immediate Release: Monday, May 22, 2023
Contact: [email protected]
Carson City — Today, the Nevada State Assembly passed SB 131, which would lock into state law an executive order signed by former Gov. Steve Sisolak to protect providers, as well as those traveling from out of state seeking an abortion. This is the second house passage, and now SB131 will be sent to Governor Joe Lombardo for his signature.
Introduced by Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, the bill would protect the licensing of abortion providers in the state, explore licensing reciprocity for providers, prohibit the state from extraditing providers who are charged in another state for providing services that are legal in Nevada, and bar the state from participating in investigations into certain reproductive health care services. This legislation is passing at a crucial time for reproductive health care. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June, providers in Nevada are seeing an increase in out-of-state patients as states bordering Nevada—like Idaho, Utah, and Arizona—have bans on abortion.
NARAL Pro-Choice Southwest Regional Director Caroline Mello Roberson released the following statement in response:
“Nevada is playing a critical role in providing abortion care in the Southwest as our neighboring states enact bans that force people to travel to access care. We’re grateful to Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and our champions in the state senate for continuing to fight for reproductive freedom and taking a critical look at the gaps in abortion access in our state. NARAL Pro-Choice Nevada and our 48,000 members will continue to turn out to call on the governor to sign this bill into law.”
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.