Read up on Reproductive Rights in WA!
Knowledge is power, so let’s power up our knowledge about how our state is positioned to defend reproductive rights and offer protections to citizens in Washington and beyond.
Recent Reproductive Rights Budget Investments in Washington
Recent Legislation to Protect and Expand Reproductive Rights in Washington
Washington Legislators (LD 22, 35, and 2) and Governor statements in response to SCOTUS presumptive decision to strike down Roe v. Wade:
LD 22 (Sen. Hunt and Reps. Dolan and Bateman voted for HB 1851 and 1009).
CD-10 Members of Congress Statements
- 2019-21: Biennial Budget – Required the Health Care Authority to administer a family planning program for individuals over nineteen years of age who would be eligible for the Take Charge Program if not for immigration status.
- 2020: Supplemental Budget – Backfilled $8.4 million in grant revenue to clinics lost when former Pres. Trump blocked federal funding for services at any providers that perform abortions.
- 2021-23: Biennial Budget – Provided $16 million to increase provider rates for family planning clinics.
- 2022: Supplemental Budget – Provided $7.4 million in one-time funding for abortion providers who experienced setbacks due to COVID-19.
- These budget investments are part of the strategy from Democrats to ensure that reproductive health care is accessible to everyone. Backfilling lost revenue due to COVID and Trump-era rules and increasing funding for other federally-supported services ensures that clinics can provide all reproductive health care services needed by patients, including abortions.
Recent Legislation to Protect and Expand Reproductive Rights in Washington
- 2018: SB 6219 (Reproductive Parity Act) ensures that all Washingtonians have access to contraception and a full range of reproductive health care, including abortion, as well as the privacy to make their own decisions.
- 2019: SB 5602 (Reproductive Health Access for All Act) we prohibitshealth care discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expanded reproductive health access for transgender Washingtonians.
- 2022: HB 1851 (Preserving a pregnant individual's ability to access abortion care) ensures the reproductive rights and freedom to choose in Washington in two key ways:
- One, the law explicitly allows physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and other providers acting within their scope of practice to offer a full range of reproductive care, including abortions.
- Two, it prohibits the state from taking action against someone based on a pregnancy outcome or for assisting someone in exercising their right to reproductive freedom. This outlaws the kind of action that Texas is taking to persecute anyone who seeks an abortion and anyone who might, wittingly or unwittingly, help them.
- 2022: HB 1009 (Concerning student health plans) requires student health plans to include the same access to abortion that is guaranteed under other health plans.
Washington Legislators (LD 22, 35, and 2) and Governor statements in response to SCOTUS presumptive decision to strike down Roe v. Wade:
LD 22 (Sen. Hunt and Reps. Dolan and Bateman voted for HB 1851 and 1009).
- Senator Hunt statement:
“It’s alarming to learn that the U.S. Supreme Court plans to reverse 50 years of settled law and repeal Roe v. Wade, but it’s not a surprise. Ever since several justices revealed their intentions in public comments some months ago, we prepared for this day here in Washington state. That’s why we passed HB 1851 this past session. We wanted to protect the right to choose against the whims of a court willing to override half a century of legal precedents. In fact, we’ve been codifying numerous rights into state law for several years now to protect Washingtonians from radical changes at the federal level.
HB 1851 ensures the reproductive rights and freedom to choose in Washington in two key ways:
One, the law explicitly allows physician assistants, advance registered nurse practitioners and other providers acting within their scope of practice to offer a full range of reproductive care, including abortions.
Two, it prohibits the state from taking action against someone based on a pregnancy outcome or for assisting someone in exercising their right to reproductive freedom. This outlaws the kind of action that Texas is taking to persecute anyone who seeks an abortion and anyone who might, wittingly or unwittingly, help them.
The court’s action is no less than an assault on the right of people to exercise control over their bodies, their health, and the needs of their households. Bans on abortions don't protect people. Instead, they ban access to safe abortions and add a barrier to vital care. I am proud to have voted for this critical state law to protect these fundamental, crucial rights.
Washington has a proud history of ensuring access to affordable reproductive health care, and we will continue to protect those rights. Forty years ago, Washington voters passed a major initiative to protect the right to reproductive health care choice throughout our state. These statutes will continue stand in our state, despite anything the U.S. Supreme Court does. In 2018, the Legislature passed the Reproductive Parity Act, SB 6219, to ensure that all Washingtonians have access to contraception and a full range of reproductive health care, including abortion, as well as the privacy to make their own decisions. And in 2019, with the Reproductive Health Access for All Act, SB 5602, we prohibited health care discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expanded reproductive health access for transgender Washingtonians. We also ensured that the operating budget funded the creation of a program to provide access to reproductive health care for immigrants regardless of their status.
No matter what the U.S. Supreme Court rules, people in Washington and people who come to Washington know that here the right to choose is valued, respected and protected.”
- Rep. Jessica Bateman statement:
"Washington voters have repeatedly voiced their support for abortion rights, and as a Washington State Representative I am committed to protecting that right.
While other states have been rolling back this fundamental right, in March we passed legislation to assure Washington maintains a safety net of abortion providers and enhanced protections for the right to choose in our state. HB 1851 updated the Reproductive Privacy Act by expanding the list of providers who can provide legal and safe abortion care, while also shielding patients who receive abortions from facing penalties, and prohibiting our state from prosecuting anyone who aids or assists a pregnant individual in exercising their right to reproductive freedom.
I also proudly voted in support of HB 1009, which requires student health plans to include the same access to abortion that is guaranteed under other health plans.
I stand firmly with you to uphold the basic human right of choosing if, when, and how to start a family."
- LD 35: Sen. Tim Sheldon (Dino), Rep. Dan Griffey (R), Rep. Drew McEwen (R). No statements found: all three voted against HB 1851 and HB 1009 (when present for roll call).
- LD 2: Sen. Jim McCune (R), Rep. Andrew Barkis (R), Rep. J.T. Wilcox (R). No statements found: all three voted against HB 1851 and HB 1009 (when present for roll call).
- Washington State Governor Jay Inslee Facebook post, May 2, 2022
"We knew it was coming. If the leaked opinion is true, SCOTUS plans to overturn Roe v. Wade. There’s a lot to say but the most important thing to know in this moment is this: NOT HERE, NOT IN OUR LIFETIME. Washington is and will remain pro-choice. And we will not slow down in the fight to ensure safe, affordable access to every person who needs it."
CD-10 Members of Congress Statements
- Sen. Patty Murray (press release, May 2, 2022):
"If this is true, this kind of outcome is exactly what I've been ringing alarm bells about—and this is a five alarm fire. Republicans' goal has always been to ban abortion: they’re already banning abortion in state legislatures across the country, they’re fighting for a federal ban right here in the Senate, and plan to overturn Roe in the Supreme Court too."
"In a matter of days or weeks, the horrifying reality is that we could live in a country without Roe. If this is true, women will be forced to remain pregnant no matter their personal circumstances. Extreme politicians will control patients’ most personal decisions. And extreme Republicans will have eliminated a fundamental right an entire generation of women have known their whole lives."
"After ringing these alarms, for years now: it’s time to break the glass. It’s time for every single person—in every single state—to realize this impacts you, your choices, your rights. It’s not happening to someone else, in some other state—it’s happening everywhere, and the highest court in the land is preparing to rip away your rights at this very moment. We need to fight back with everything we've got right now. The right to abortion is on the line, and I'll never stop fighting to protect it."
- Sen. Maria Cantwell (press release, May 2, 2022):
“Overturning a woman's right to privacy and reproductive health after 50 years of case law makes clear the far right’s agenda: get Supreme Court justices who will testify at confirmation hearings that Roe v. Wade is settled law, but now vote to overturn it. Women's lives and their health care are not political footballs. The right to privacy exists within our Constitution and must be defended."
If the reporting about the draft opinion is true, America is on the path to returning to a dangerous time. The State of Washington has codified these rights. We must now do that for the rest of the country."
- Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (press release, May 3, 2022):
Washington, D.C.— Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a leader in the Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement on reports of a draft opinion of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade."
“Access to reproductive health care, including safe and legal abortion, is in jeopardy,” said Strickland. “That is why I voted to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which will codify the rights enshrined by Roe v. Wade into law and protect this fundamental right across the country. I will continue fighting to ensure that happens.”
“If this report holds true, the Supreme Court of the United States has taken our nation in the wrong direction, risking the lives of not only women but all Americans.”
“Regulating access to reproductive health care is about one thing; control. The impact of this decision will fall hardest on people who already face discriminatory obstacles to health care in the first place—particularly people of color, people with disabilities, people in rural areas, young people, undocumented people, and those having difficulty making ends meet. As we look towards the future, we have a responsibility to use every tool at our disposal to protect your right to make your own decisions related to your health care, free of intrusion.”