Governor Jay Inslee unveiled a new wave of legislation Friday afternoon offering new legal protections for women and strengthening existing abortion rights laws.
“We will introduce a constitutional amendment to enshrine into our basic foundational document the right of a woman’s choice in the state of Washington” Inslee told a small gathering at the Wayside United Church of Christ in Federal Way.
Some anti-abortion states have said they will prosecute women, and those who help them, who go to other states to receive abortions.
State Representative Drew Hanson will introduce a bill that intervenes in those cases “this will prevent other states from using Washington state courts or Washington state judicial process to enforce their anti-choice laws.”
The list is growing. State Representative Tarra Simmons is again sponsoring the “Keep Our Care Act;’ legislation would safeguard healthcare services following a merger “Healthcare consolidations are prolific across Washington state and have dramatically reduced access to our reproductive healthcare.” The bill was defeated in the last legislative session.
The state legislature reconvenes on the second Monday in January.
