Newsom Vetoes Bill That Would Ban Extraditions for Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care
When Louisiana authorities tried to extradite a California doctor last winter for sending abortion pills to women in their state, Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed back—hard. “We will not allow extremist politicians from other states to reach into California and try to punish doctors based on allegations that they provided reproductive health care services,” Newsom declared. […]
In late 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a California bill aimed at preventing the extradition of abortion providers, helpers, and patients to other states. The bill, known as AB 2164 or the Care Without Fear Act, was designed to strengthen California's shield laws that protect reproductive healthcare services across state lines.
These laws, which California has some of the most robust in the United States, have been crucial in preserving abortion access since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. However, Newsom, who is expected to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, chose to veto the bill, citing concerns about the precedent it could set regarding the erosion of executive authority under incoming administrations.
This decision has alarmed reproductive rights advocates, who argue that California cannot claim to be a safe haven for reproductive freedom if it leaves abortion providers just one election away from extradition.
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