Planned Parenthood Eyes New Targets Amid Arizona’s Tightening Abortion Restrictions

The recent overturning of Arizona’s 15-week abortion law has spurred Planned Parenthood to evaluate remaining state restrictions for potential legal challenges. Erika Mach, the organization’s chief external affairs officer, announced on Tuesday that several laws are deemed invalid following the voter approval of Proposition 139 in November.

Proposition 139 established a constitutional “fundamental right” to terminate a pregnancy, a point underscored by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Frank Moskowitz last week when he ruled against the enforcement of the 15-week limit. Despite this progress, numerous other restrictions continue to exist, prompting Planned Parenthood Advocates to scrutinize these laws for possible litigation.

One likely target is the mandatory 24-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion. According to Mach, such a delay lacks medical justification. Additionally, she highlighted concerns regarding laws that require abortion providers to disclose personal details about pregnant women, which Governor Katie Hobbs has already criticized as “government surveillance.”

Despite these issues, no measures aimed at repealing abortion restrictions have advanced in the Republican-controlled legislature. Instead, lawmakers are proposing new regulations and attempting to cut funding for Planned Parenthood’s non-abortion services, including birth control and STI testing. This legislative stall leaves litigation as a primary avenue for change.

Central to this discussion is the interpretation of Proposition 139. The amendment prohibits the state from enacting laws that deny or restrict access to abortion before fetal viability unless there’s a compelling state interest. However, it allows some regulation post-viability, generally considered between 22 and 24 weeks, provided it does not endanger the health of the pregnant individual.

Mach noted that more than 40 restrictions remain in effect, including the controversial waiting period and the ban on telehealth abortions—measures that particularly disadvantage those in rural areas with limited access to abortion services.

She argued for more flexible options, stating that women should have the ability to consult with a physician remotely for prescriptions of mifepristone, thus reducing the need for multiple in-person visits.

In contrast, the recent Republican push in the House aimed to impose additional restrictions on medication-induced abortions. The bill, HB2681, which passed along party lines, mandates that doctors personally confirm pregnancies, check blood types, and provide extensive counseling on the potential effects of the medication. This proposal now awaits Senate consideration.

Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, a Democrat from Tucson, criticized these ongoing attempts to restrict reproductive rights, insisting that the electorate made their stance clear in November elections. Gubernatorial press aide Christian Slater indicated that Governor Hobbs has not yet reviewed the bill but emphasized her commitment to veto any legislation that undermines abortion rights.