Reproductive rights advocates sue Arizona over laws regulating abortion
[May 23, 2025]
By SEJAL GOVINDARAO
PHOENIX (AP) — Reproductive rights advocates sued Arizona on Thursday to
unravel several laws regulating abortion in the state.
The lawsuit was filed by two providers in the state and the Arizona
Medical Association. It comes more than six months after voters
enshrined in the state constitution access to abortions up to fetal
viability, which is the point at which a fetus can survive outside of
the uterus.
The advocates are seeking to undo laws including those that bar
abortions sought based on genetic abnormalities, require informed
consent in-person at least 24 hours before the procedure and offer an
opportunity to view the ultrasound, and prohibit abortion medication
delivered by mail and the use of tele-health for abortion care.
“These stigmatizing and medically unnecessary abortion restrictions
violate the right to reproductive freedom established by Arizona voters
last November, and it’s time for them to go,” Rebecca Chan, staff
attorney for the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, said in a statement.
“Arizonans are perfectly capable of making decisions about their own
reproductive futures."
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Arizona abortion-rights supporters gather for a news conference
prior to delivering more than 800,000 petition signatures to the
state Capitol to get abortion rights on the November general
election ballot, July 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D.
Franklin, File)
 The state attorney general's office
is reviewing the complaint, and an agency spokesperson noted that
state law should be in line with the amendment approved by voters
last November. Arizona was one of a handful of states that passed
ballot measures in the 2024 general election enshrining the right to
abortion to their state constitutions.
Earlier this year, an Arizona judge blocked the state's 15-week
abortion ban.
Peter Gentala, president of Center for Arizona Policy, a socially
conservative nonprofit, said it is too early to determine if the
organization will intervene in the lawsuit.
“Women’s health is important and this lawsuit reflects an agenda to
maximize abortion in Arizona and that comes at a cost to women’s
health,” he said.
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