Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has approved a bill that codifies an existing executive order related to abortion that blocks prosecutions for out-of-state residents who seek the procedure and in-state providers.
The rare move positions Nevada as one of the only Republican-led states to enact such pro-abortion policies. Despite identifying as “pro-life,” Lombardo pledged to honor the 1990 referendum vote that granted abortion up to 24 weeks in Nevada.
Lombardo’s decision to sign the law distinguishes him from most other Republican governors who have not sought similar pro-abortion policies. Most conservative-led states have moved to restrict abortion in the face of what they’ve described as the Democrats’ extreme abortion policies.
The legislation builds upon a previous executive order issued by former Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, which prohibits state agencies from aiding out-of-state investigations that might lead to the prosecution of abortion patients traveling to Nevada.
The issue of the executive order became a significant point of contention during Lombardo’s closely contested reelection campaign in 2022. The new law also means that doctors providing abortions can’t be penalized or disqualified by medical licensing boards and commissions.
Initially, Lombardo expressed his intention to revoke the executive order, but later he reversed his stance and pledged to uphold it, a change that was highlighted by Sisolak’s campaign. In February, Lombardo indicated his willingness to sign the bill, which does not introduce any additional provisions beyond what was already included in Sisolak’s executive order.
Elizabeth Ray, a spokeswoman for Lombardo, said in a statement that the governor had made a campaign commitment to ensure Nevada wouldn’t prosecute women seeking abortions in the state.
“Today, Governor Lombardo kept that commitment,” she said.
Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, a Democrat and the legislation’s sponsor, commended Lombardo.
“I want to thank [Lombardo] for following through on his commitment to ensuring that Nevada won’t participate in prosecutions of women who come here to exercise their reproductive rights,” Cannizzaro said.
Several Democratic-controlled states, including California, Colorado, and Rhode Island, have enacted similar pro-abortion measures.
Lombardo joins a small group of Republican governors, including Vermont Gov. Phil Scott and former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, who have signed legislation that establishes pro-abortion policies. The vast majority of GOP governors share the party’s anti-abortion platform.
Abortion Rates Fall
In the last year, more than half of all U.S. states have moved to restrict abortions in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court returning decision-making power to the states.Some states have seen ongoing legal battles over newly implemented abortion restrictions. The report states that this has led to a situation where the legal status of abortion is being altered on a week-by-week basis, causing confusion and disruption in abortion provision.
Abortions fell by 32,260 in states with active restrictions from July 2022 to December 2022, according to the data.
In the six months following the Dobbs decision, the United States has experienced an average monthly reduction of 5,377 abortions. Although the decline in abortion numbers does not follow a linear pattern each month, there has been a consistent decrease from July to December, with fewer abortions reported compared to April 2022, the report states.
On the other hand, pro-abortion states such as New York, Virginia, and New Jersey saw a slight increase in abortions per month following the Supreme Court’s decision.
During a press conference earlier this week, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser touted the results of the past year and chastised those pushing for no limits on abortion.
“Literally half of the country has acted to protect unborn children and also to serve their mothers, while the left again has battled [against] every single step, every single inch, and against every single limit, no matter the gestational age of the unborn child,” Dannenfelser said. “This is what it looks like when democracy starts to get to work on such a profound human rights battle and the one of our time.”
