Washington State lawmakers passed a shield law Tuesday that offers protections to anyone traveling out of state for an abortion.
The House voted 59-38 on House Bill 1469, which was part of a package of bills introduced in response to the Supreme Court’s July 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a 1973 decision that legalized abortion.
McKayla Wolff left and Karen Wolff shook hands as they rallied for abortion rights at the capital in St. Paul, Minn., on Sunday, July 17, 2022. (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune)
“We believe in reproductive freedom here in Washington State, and we will use every tool at our disposal to protect people in Washington from the reach of anti-abortion laws in Texas and elsewhere,” said Democratic Rep. Drew Hansen. “If other states want to be creative and aggressive in restricting abortion, we will be creative and aggressive in opposition.”
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Gov. Jay Inslee, who has yet to sign the bill, tweeted about the legislation and praised pro-choice lawmakers for their work.
“Two important bills to protect access to abortion care are on a steady course toward my desk,” the governor said. “Thanks to our pro-choice legislators, WA is and will remain a pro-choice state.”
Hansen’s bill prohibits the issuance of out-of-state subpoenas seeking information about abortion and reproductive health services, as well as out-of-state criminal investigations and arrests seeking communication and evidence about abortion and reproductive health services.
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The bill also prohibits the governor from issuing anyone for out-of-state charges related to reproductive health care services, while also providing a cause of action to recover damages and other legal costs for out-of-state hostile actions related to reproductive health services.
“HB 1469 will help secure health care in Washington state by sending a clear message to patients across the country: Washington will always support you, even if your states don’t,” said Courtney Normand, the state director of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. in a news release from Hansen’s office.
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In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills designed to protect California law enforcement officers, medical providers and technology companies from complying with subpoenas or cooperating with investigations by out-of-state agencies. related to any abortions that legally occur in California.