Nevada’s Republican governor on Tuesday signed a measure that shields out-of-state abortion seekers and those who provide reproductive care from prosecution in the Silver State, The Nevada Independent reports.
SB131 codifies an executive order former Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak issued in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned the landmark Roe v Wade ruling that established reproductive rights.
Sisolak’s executive order protected out-of-state residents seeking legal abortions in Nevada as some states enacted tough post-Roe anti-abortion measures.
Gov. Joe Lombardo spokesperson Elizabeth Ray on Tuesday told The Nevada Independent that the governor was adhering to a campaign promise.
“Governor Lombardo made a campaign commitment to sign a law ensuring that Nevada would not participate in prosecuting those seeking legal medical care in the state,” Ray said.
Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas), who sponsored the measure, thanked the Republican governor Tuesday.
“Today, #SB131 was signed by Governor Lombardo,” Cannizzaro tweeted.
“I want [to] thank him for following through on his commitment to ensure that Nevada won't participate in prosecutions of women who come here to exercise their reproductive rights,” Seevers Gansert said.
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Before arriving on the governor’s desk, the measure passed the Assembly on a 28-14 party-line vote and the Senate 16-6, with Republican state Senators Heidi Seevers Gansert and Carrie Buck joining Democrats.
“Given the hodgepodge of laws across the U.S., the one thing that jumps off the page to me is: Women who face these difficult choices, we need to give them our support and our prayers, but we don’t need to give them jail time,” Seevers Gansert said.
