CaliforniaAuthorized clinicians may perform abortions beyond the first trimester
Clinicians whose licenses or certificates authorize abortion care may perform abortions beyond the first trimester; some later procedural abortions require written plans for physician help.
What it does
Clinicians whose licenses or certificates authorize them to perform abortions may do so beyond the first trimester, subject to their profession’s rules.
Nurse practitioners and certified nurse-midwives performing procedural abortions beyond the first trimester must have written plans for getting a physician’s help when care is beyond their training.
Argument forAllowing authorized clinicians to perform abortions beyond the first trimester could give patients more options for care from trained providers.
Argument againstWritten plans for consulting and transferring care could add steps for nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives providing procedural abortions later in pregnancy.
More detail
California law allows people with active licenses or certificates under specified medical, nursing, or physician assistant laws to perform abortions when their license or certificate authorizes it. This covers people licensed or certified under the Medical Practice Act, Osteopathic Act, Nursing Practice Act, or Physician Assistant Practice Act who are authorized to perform an abortion. Nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and physician assistants must meet the requirements that apply to their professions.
Nurse practitioners and certified nurse-midwives performing procedural abortions beyond the first trimester must follow written procedures for consulting, referring, and transferring care to a physician and surgeon. This applies to nurse practitioners and certified nurse-midwives performing procedural abortions beyond the first trimester. The procedures apply when care is beyond the clinician’s education, training, and experience. They must be agreed upon with a physician, follow standardized procedures, or be developed by a health care system with a physician. The written procedures apply when these clinicians perform a procedural abortion beyond the first trimester.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 487, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 31Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 25Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 17. Page 6507.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1973 Aguiar-Curry Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1973 Aguiar-Curry et al. By Pérez. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 25In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10.).Passed Senate
- Aug 11Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 10From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Aug 3From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jun 17In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- Jun 8From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 3.) (June 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- May 27Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.Minor
- May 18In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1973 Aguiar-Curry Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 53. Noes 16. Page 5133.)Passed Assembly
- May 14Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 13).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 13Coauthors revised.
- May 6In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.Minor
- Apr 8Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 7From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 14. Noes 4.) (April 7).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Health]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 23Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.Minor
- Mar 19From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 19Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and HEALTH.Minor
- Feb 14From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
- Feb 13Read first time. To print.Introduced
HealthcareReproductive RightsGovernment & Ethics