The Nevada assembly passed a measure to roll back abortion restrictions Tuesday, sending the bill to Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak.
The bill removes criminal penalties for women who take abortion-inducing drugs or perform abortions on themselves. The bill also reverses a requirement that physicians explain “the physical and emotional implications” before preforming abortions. Instead, they will be required only to describe the procedure itself and what it entails.
“All across the country women’s rights are being threatened by extremist politicians,” said Democratic Assemblywoman Shea Backus. “These are draconian laws that have no business in a free society.”
The bill passed 27-13 in the lower chamber, with all Democrats but one voting in favor and all Republicans voting against it. Sisolak is expected to sign the bill into law, although he has not yet commented on the legislation.
Nevada Democrats said they saw the bill as a means to protect women as several other states recently have enacted new laws to restrict access to abortion. Georgia, Ohio, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Alabama have passed restrictive bills that outlaw abortion after six weeks, when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Alabama’s law bans all abortions, without exception for instances of rape or incest.
