A Statement from Center for Arizona Policy President Cathi Herrod, Esq.
Pro-abortion activists celebrated too quickly when SB 1457 recently fell short of the necessary 16 votes for passage. Today, that bill is headed to Governor Ducey’s desk.
Sponsored by Sen. Nancy Barto, the major pro-life bill passed out of both the House and Senate today with clarifying adjustments to the language, but not to the intent, of the life-affirming bill. Republicans voted for the bill; Democrats voted against it.
SB 1457 had previously passed out of the full House and Senate along party lines, but failed to pass the final Senate vote because of some language clarification concerns. With those concerns addressed, lawmakers passed the bill out of conference committee and then the full House and Senate.
The vote came just days after a federal appeals court upheld a similar law in Ohio, providing more evidence of constitutionality for the prohibition of abortion, based on a genetic condition like Down syndrome.
SB 1457 is a commonsense bill that prohibits abortion based on the diagnosis of a genetic abnormality, except for those incompatible with life. It also protects women from the dangers of chemical abortions by ensuring the pills are not delivered through the mail, leaving women to fend for themselves during the risky ordeal.
It also repeals a pre-Roe law that punishes women who have abortions, and it establishes that Arizona laws will be interpreted in the context of valuing all human life. It also prohibits public institutions from performing abortions, or experimenting with aborted human remains.
Arizonans can be proud of SB 1457 sponsor, Senator Nancy Barto, and the other pro-life lawmakers who voted in favor of protecting the most vulnerable among us. They showed bravery and human decency in passing this important, life-affirming legislation.
Contact Governor Ducey and ask him to sign SB 1457!
Send him an email here or call his office at (602) 542-4331.
Thank you for your support, your prayers, and your involvement in this effort!