California bill would ask voters to add abortion rights amendment to state constitution

A new California bill would ask voters to approve an amendment to the state constitution protecting abortion rights — another move meant to create a reproductive safe haven.

Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, on Wednesday announced Senate Constitutional Amendment 10, which would require a two-thirds majority vote from both houses and would appear before voters on the November general election ballot.

Atkins, Rendon and Gov. Gavin Newsom have been planning the measure since May, when Politico obtained a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion that showed justices may be on the cusp of overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that guaranteed federal abortion rights.

“Too many times, history has shown us that human rights must be enshrined in the constitution so that no one can infringe upon them,” This is one such historic moment, and it must be met with a historic response,” Pro Tem Atkins said. “It is our duty as legislators to fight for the people of California and their right to make decisions about their own bodies and access critical health care. This constitutional amendment is the additional armor we need for that battle.”

This story was originally published June 13, 2022 at 3:56 PM with the headline "California bill would ask voters to add abortion rights amendment to state constitution."