California Future of Abortion Council Leaders Celebrate Milestone Anniversary, Coalition Successes, and Five Additional
Abortion Expansion Bills Signed
October 1, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
See below
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
See below
California Future of Abortion Council Leaders Celebrate Milestone Anniversary, Coalition Successes, and
Five Additional Abortion Expansion Bills Signed
Five Additional Abortion Expansion Bills Signed
CALIFORNIA – The following members of the California Future of Abortion Council (CA FAB Council) steering committee, ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, Black Women for Wellness Action Project, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, California Nurse-Midwives Association, Essential Access Health, National Health Law Program, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Reproductive Freedom for All, and TEACH - Training in early Abortion for Comprehensive Healthcare, released a statement in response to Governor Newsom signing new abortion access bills as the FAB Council commemorates its 5th anniversary:
“Since the overturning of Roe, California has led the way nationwide in protecting and expanding abortion access for all people in our state, thanks to the work of the California Future of Abortion (FAB) Council and bold state leaders. The FAB Council was launched in 2021 by reproductive health, rights and justice advocates – in collaboration with Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders - to identify barriers to abortion access and recommend policy solutions to expand equitable and affordable access to abortion services for all who seek care in California.
“Five years in, the FAB Council’s work has resulted in three reports with more than 60 policy recommendations, 31 pro-abortion bills enacted into law and nearly $400 million in historic investments for abortion and reproductive health access. Governor Newsom signed five additional bills into law over the weekend – bringing the total to 36 – that will further expand access to abortion and adds an exclamation mark to the five-year partnership.
“We thank Governor Newsom, state legislative leaders, and the more than 100 advocates that contributed their expertise to help make California a beacon of reproductive freedom.
“The FAB Council’s work is not yet over. Amidst unrelenting federal attacks, California must continue to prioritize reproductive rights and safeguard the progress we’ve made in expanding equitable access to abortion care. The FAB Council’s third report released in January outlined 48 policy recommendations that state leaders can pursue to protect abortion access in the state as attacks from the Trump Administration, Congress, and federal courts seek to devastate the abortion and reproductive health care safety net nationwide, including in California.”
The abortion-related bills signed by Governor Newsom include:
Learn more about the FAB Council’s successes here.
Contact:
Sylvia Castillo, California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom [email protected]
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“Since the overturning of Roe, California has led the way nationwide in protecting and expanding abortion access for all people in our state, thanks to the work of the California Future of Abortion (FAB) Council and bold state leaders. The FAB Council was launched in 2021 by reproductive health, rights and justice advocates – in collaboration with Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders - to identify barriers to abortion access and recommend policy solutions to expand equitable and affordable access to abortion services for all who seek care in California.
“Five years in, the FAB Council’s work has resulted in three reports with more than 60 policy recommendations, 31 pro-abortion bills enacted into law and nearly $400 million in historic investments for abortion and reproductive health access. Governor Newsom signed five additional bills into law over the weekend – bringing the total to 36 – that will further expand access to abortion and adds an exclamation mark to the five-year partnership.
“We thank Governor Newsom, state legislative leaders, and the more than 100 advocates that contributed their expertise to help make California a beacon of reproductive freedom.
“The FAB Council’s work is not yet over. Amidst unrelenting federal attacks, California must continue to prioritize reproductive rights and safeguard the progress we’ve made in expanding equitable access to abortion care. The FAB Council’s third report released in January outlined 48 policy recommendations that state leaders can pursue to protect abortion access in the state as attacks from the Trump Administration, Congress, and federal courts seek to devastate the abortion and reproductive health care safety net nationwide, including in California.”
The abortion-related bills signed by Governor Newsom include:
- AB 1696 (Stefani) - Specifies that a nurse-midwife does not require physician supervision when providing emergency services and care (EMTALA) within the scope of their authorized licensure.
- AB 1973 (Aguiar-Curry) Removes restrictive, outdated language and modernizes statute for the provision of abortion care by advanced-practice clinicians.
- AB 2448 (Berman & Bauer-Kahan) Clarifies that electronic health records companies must enable privacy technology features for providers of sensitive services so they can protect their patients’ health records.
- AB 2531 (Irwin) Creates a pathway for veterans in California to receive abortion care in the state after recent federal action that eliminated access.
- AB 2540 (Stefani) Requires community colleges to make medication abortion care accessible to students, manage referrals and spread awareness about abortion care access in their communities.
Learn more about the FAB Council’s successes here.
Contact:
Sylvia Castillo, California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom [email protected]
###
