Legislative and State Budget Updates
The 2023 Legislative Session ended at midnight on September 14th. There were over 2,500 bills introduced at the beginning of this year, the first year of the 2-year Legislative Session. Over 1,300 bills made it through both houses of the legislature and were sent to the Governor, where he had one month to either sign or veto legislation before an October 14th signing deadline.
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) sent 5 sponsored bills to the Governor’s desk. PPAC also supported 56 bills, including 12 bills from the Future of Abortion Council’s 2022 recommendations.
This year, all Planned Parenthood-supported bills continued to focus on protecting abortion providers and patients, and expanding coverage of these protections for other sensitive health care services. With our partners in the Future of Abortion Council and the Women’s Legislative Caucus, Planned Parenthood supported legislation to make condoms free and available in high schools, clean up state policy related to physician assistant’s scope and training for first trimester abortion, and to repeal outdated parental consent laws. Planned Parenthood also worked closely with partners to support pro-LGBTQ+ legislation this year to build on California’s inclusive and protective policies for LGBTQ+ people and their families.
Additionally, Planned Parenthood is proud to stand with and work alongside California leaders as they continue to push back on conservative state policies with progressive policies related to social housing, gun reform, climate justice, and decriminalization of psychedelics.
Read on for a comprehensive list of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) supported bills and their status:
PPAC Sponsored Bills Signed into Law:
- AB 352 (Bauer-Kahan) Privacy Protections for Patients Medical Records. Enhances privacy protections for medical records related to abortion, pregnancy loss, and other sensitive services through electronic health record sharing and health information exchanges.
- AB 1646 (Nguyen) Medical Resident Training. Facilitates guest rotations in medical residency programs in California
- AB 1707 (Pacheco) Enhancing Provider Protections. Builds on existing law to protect reproductive health care providers from adverse actions based on another state’s hostile law.
- SB 487 (Atkins)* Enhancing Provider Protections. Provides additional safeguards for California abortion providers and other entities and individuals that serve and support abortion patients that reside in states with hostile abortion laws.
California Future of Abortion (CA FAB) Council:
This October, the California Future of Abortion Council, which Planned Parenthood is a member of, alongside the Legislative Women’s Council, celebrates the eight bills protecting reproductive health care being signed into law by Governor Newsom:
Protecting People From Other States’ Abortion Bans:
- Senate Bill 345 by Senator Nancy Skinner (Berkeley) improves protections for providers against the enforcement of other states’ laws that criminalize or limit reproductive and gender affirming health care services.
- Senate Bill 487 by Senator Toni Atkins (San Diego) protects California abortion providers’ ability to participate in the Medi-Cal program and protects their ability to contract with health plans, regardless of enforcement activities in another state, if the conduct is legal under California law.
- Assembly Bill 1707 by Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco (Downey) protects health care providers and facilities in California from state licensing actions against them based on the enforcement of hostile laws that restrict abortion, gender affirming care, and other sensitive services in another state.
Protecting Reproductive Health Information:
- Assembly Bill 254 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (Orinda) protects reproductive and sexual health digital data included in personal health tracking applications.
- Assembly Bill 352 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (Orinda) enhances privacy protections for electronic medical records related to abortion, gender affirming care, pregnancy loss, and other sensitive services, closing a major loophole in privacy protections for people traveling to California for abortion and gender affirming care.
Protecting Patients and Providers:
- Assembly Bill 571 by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (Laguna Beach) prohibits an insurer from refusing to provide malpractice insurance to a provider on the basis of them offering abortion, contraception, or gender affirming care that is lawful in California but unlawful in another state.
- Assembly Bill 1720 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (Orinda) clarifies that ultrasounds and similar medical imaging devices must be offered in licensed facilities or by licensed providers, protecting against unscrupulous uses.
Expanding Reproductive Health Care Workforce
- Assembly Bill 1646 by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (Elk Grove) facilitates guest rotations in medical residency programs in California for residents who can no longer receive the proper training due to their program being in a state with restrictions or bans.
- Signed earlier this month, Senate Bill 385 (Atkins, – San Diego) allows physician assistants to provide abortion care, after receiving training and in compliance with protocols.
To stay updated with the California Future of Abortion Council, check out www.cafabcouncil.org.
Other Bills Signed by Governor Newsom:
- California Bans Book Bans and Textbook Censorship in Schools - Governor Newsom signed AB 1078 (Jackson - Moreno Valley) to ban book bans and textbook censorship in the state’s 10,000+ schools.
- Imperial Valley Healthcare District - In response to Imperial Valley’s urgent health crisis, AB 918 (Garcia - El Centro)l establishes one united healthcare district in the County of Imperial. The purpose of the Imperial Valley Healthcare District is to consolidate and coordinate medical services and improve healthcare access and cost-saving benefits for residents.
- SB 14 (Grove) Governor Newsom signed into law. This law cracks down on sex trafficking of minors, and will make the trafficking of a minor for purposes of a commercial sex act a serious felony.
- Legislation Supporting LGBTQ+ Californians Measures include AB 5, which sets implementation timelines for required LGBTQ+ cultural competency training by public school teachers and staff. The Governor also signed SB 857, which will establish an advisory task force to identify LGBTQ+ pupil needs statewide and assist in implementing supportive initiatives, and AB 223, which requires any petition for a change of gender and sex identifier by a minor to be kept confidential by the court.
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Honor the Life of Reproductive Rights Champion U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away Thursday, September 28, 2023 in her D.C. home at the age of 90.
Over the course of her career, the trail-blazing Feinstein established numerous firsts over her decades on Capitol Hill – she was the first woman to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1993, the first woman to chair the Senate Rules Committee in 2007, and the first woman to chair the Senate Intelligence Committee in 2009.
Feinstein was thrust into politics on the heels of deep tragedy – in November of 1978, Mayor George Moscone and fellow City Supervisor Harvey Milk, the city’s first openly gay elected official, were shot to death in City Hall by a fellow politician. Feinstein navigated the chaotic political aftermath to become acting mayor. She went on to lend a healing calm to her city, guide it through the AIDS crisis that followed, and then went on to win two full terms.
Throughout her career, Senator Feinstein was a steadfast champion for reproductive rights – we honor her life, legacy, and commitment to California. Of this loss, Jodi Hicks, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California states:
On behalf of Planned Parenthood in California, and really all Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country, I extend our deepest condolences to the Senator’s family, friends, staff, and all who she inspired. Planned Parenthood has nothing but profound gratitude and appreciation for Senator Feinstein’s decades of service and leadership, and certainly the trailblazing path she created for women in politics. Senator Feinstein was a steadfast champion for California and showed the nation what it meant to lead with principle and purpose.
California Appoints Laphonza Butler to Senate
On Sunday, October 1, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his appointment of EMILY’S List President Laphonza Butler to the United States Senate to fill the seat of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Butler was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, October 3.
Butler is a longtime labor leader and advocate for women and working people. She will be the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate. She will also be the first Black lesbian to openly serve in Congress in American history and the second Black woman to represent California in the Senate following Vice President Kamala Harris.
Already lauded for her contributions by prominent prominent Black, LGBTQ+, and elected leaders, Senator Designate Butler says:
“I’m honored to accept Governor Newsom’s appointment to be U.S. Senator for a state I have made my home and honored by his trust in me to serve the people of California and this great nation. No one will ever measure up to the legacy of Senator Dianne Feinstein, but I will do my best to honor her legacy and leadership by committing to work for women and girls, workers and unions, struggling parents, and all of California. I am ready to serve.”
Of the appointment, Jodi Hicks, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California says:
“I am thrilled to now call Laphonza – my friend, my colleague, my mentor – a Senator for the state of California. She has worked to uplift and protect workers and has been a national leader in the fight for reproductive freedom. I have personally been grateful for her partnership and leadership in our fight for women during this critical time. Laphonza has been an inspiration to so many, including myself, and I am so proud of our state and our representation right now. She will be an amazing advocate for Californians in the Senate and will certainly continue the rich legacy of California’s leadership in the Senate. On behalf of Planned Parenthood, we extend our heartfelt congratulations on the appointment and look forward to continuing to work with her as she takes on this new challenge.”
Know Their Votes
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California understands that everyone should have the freedom to control their own body, and has put together an important resource where you can take action and find out where your representative stands on important issues – like access to abortion.
Last year, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe, it stripped tens of millions of people of the right to abortion and today, more than 20 states have banned some or all abortion.
In California, abortion remains legal and we are fighting to protect and expand access every day. However, many members of Congress, including members from California, support a national abortion ban. If passed, this ban will strip away essential health care access from millions of Californians.
To learn about where your representative stands, visit knowtheirvotes.com
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