Abortion is poised to be a central theme in Democratic campaigns across Nevada for the 2024 election.
The overturn of Roe v. Wade has intensified legislative actions related to abortion at both partisan and bipartisan levels. Several bills, including the Reproductive Freedom Amendment (SJR7), have been passed in the Nevada legislature, addressing and solidifying abortion in the state.
While Nevada already has laws safeguarding abortion, the Reproductive Freedom Amendment seeks to amend the state constitution, removing the six-month limitation on abortion and extending the right to abortion up to the moment of birth if the health or mental health of the mother is at risk. Despite existing protections, Nevada Democrats view this amendment as a proactive measure in response to the changing landscape of abortion in the country.
The Reproductive Freedom Amendment is part of broader efforts by Nevada Democrats to champion abortion as a pivotal election issue. Planned Parenthood has designated Nevada as a “safe haven for abortion,” attracting out-of-state women seeking an abortion.
Since the Dobbs v. Jackson decision that overturned federal abortion laws, the number of out-of-state patients seeking abortion in Southern Nevada has doubled, reaching 534 patients in 2022. Patients from Texas, Arizona, and Utah constituted a significant portion of those seeking abortion care in Nevada.
The influx prompted legislative actions, including SB131, which codified former Governor Steve Sisolak’s Executive Order declaring reproductive health care a human right. Opponents of such legislation have raised concerns about Nevada being a hub for human trafficking and the safety of trafficked women and children.
However, not all initiatives aimed at further entrenching abortions have been successful. A recent initiative petition by Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom PAC, seeking to enshrine abortion in the state constitution, was rejected by Carson District Court Judge James Russell, who cited a violation of state law requiring an initiative petition to address a single subject.
Additionally, Nevada’s federal court is considering lifting the order that currently prevents the enforcement of the state’s parental notification requirement for minors seeking abortion. While Nevada has a parental notification statute, it was deemed unconstitutional as part of the Glick v McKay case decided by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the injunction has remained in place.
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