Statement from ACT Legal Director Lizzy Hinkley on Gov. Newsom’s veto of AB 2164

We’re grateful to Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, the Women’s Caucus, and the LGBT Caucus for their tireless work trying to get this critical legislation enacted. But as the Trump administration and states around the country work to criminalize abortion providers and patients, Governor Newsom vetoed AB 2164, an ACT-sponsored bill that codified extradition protections for California abortion providers and helpers targeted by out-of-state extremists for delivering legally protected healthcare.

This legislation was a top priority for California abortion providers living with the non-hypothetical fear of being extradited to stand criminal trial for the alleged provision of safe, effective abortion care. Eighteen other governors have signed identical provisions into law without fanfare. It is a common-sense solution to a problem that keeps providers up at night. 

Gov. Newsom explained his veto decision as one of principled respect for executive power. But an outgoing Governor’s principled stance is cold comfort to Californians living and working in the real world post-Dobbs. A high-brow, academic justification for refusing to codify legal protections only reveals an ignorance for the lived reality of patients and providers – and does nothing to help them.

ACT will work with the incoming governor’s administration to codify the provisions in CA AB 2164. California abortion providers, helpers, and the patients they serve deserve the security and stability of statutory extradition protections. Delivering for them is our principled stance.