Attorney General Mayes has expressed her gratitude following the Arizona House's decision to repeal the 1864 abortion ban. The law, which was nearly a total ban on abortion, criminalized medical professionals for providing care and posed risks to women's health in the state.
Mayes stated, "I am grateful that sanity prevailed in the Arizona House today with the repeal of the draconian, near-total 1864 abortion ban. That 160-year-old law that criminalizes doctors and nurses for caring for their patients and endangers the lives and health of women across our state has no place in the 21st century."
She urged the Senate to act swiftly to support this repeal: "I call on the Senate to quickly follow suit and join the House in repealing this law." However, she noted a potential delay due to the absence of an emergency clause that would expedite its effect.
Mayes assured that her office is exploring all legal avenues to prevent any enforcement of this old legislation. She remarked, "Unfortunately, without an emergency clause that would allow the repeal to take effect quickly, we may still be looking at a period of time when the 1864 law could potentially take effect. My office continues to look at every legal option available to prevent that from ever happening."