Nevada’s Joe Lombardo on Tuesday grew to become one of many first Republican governors to enshrine protections for out-of-state abortion sufferers and in-state providers, including the western swing state to the checklist of these passing new legal guidelines to solidify their standing as protected havens for abortion sufferers.

The laws codifies an present government order from former Gov. Steve Sisolak final yr — who misplaced reelection to Lombardo — that bars state companies from aiding in out-of-state investigations that might result in the prosecution of abortion sufferers who journey to Nevada. It additionally ensures medical boards and commissions that oversee medical licenses don’t self-discipline or disqualify docs who present abortions.

Lombardo, who describes himself as “pro-life” and was endorsed by the National Right to Life Committee, stated on the marketing campaign path that he would respect the desire of voters who codified abortion rights as much as 24 weeks in a 1990 referendum vote. He was the one Republican to defeat a state Democratic incumbent in the final election.

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“I want to thank (Lombardo) for following through on his commitment to ensuring that Nevada won’t participate in prosecutions of women who come here to exercise their reproductive rights,” stated Democratic Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, who sponsored the laws, in a press release Tuesday.

Lombardo is likely one of the solely Republican governors — following Vermont Gov. Phil Scott and former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker — to signal a regulation enshrining protections for abortion.

The provisions had been a serious flashpoint in one of many closest governor’s races of the 2022 midterms and have become the most recent reflection level for how Republican lawmakers and candidates navigate abortion coverage debates in blue to purple states. Lombardo initially stated he would repeal the manager order, however stated months later he would uphold it, a reversal that Sisolak’s marketing campaign repeatedly emphasised. In February, he signaled that he would signal the invoice, which doesn’t add any extra protections to Sisolak’s government order.

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“Governor Lombardo made a campaign commitment to ensure that Nevada would not participate in prosecuting those seeking legal medical care in the state,” spokesperson Elizabeth Ray stated in a press release. “Today, Governor Lombardo kept that commitment.”

Cannizzaro informed The Associated Press final month that she was not conscious of specific circumstances of out of doors states prosecuting girls who’ve come to Nevada for abortions, however stated that might occur with extra restrictive legal guidelines coming from different states. She referenced restrictions authorised in neighboring Idaho and Utah.

Democratic-controlled states from California to Colorado to Rhode Island have authorised comparable laws to the one in Nevada.

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Nevada’s state Senate superior the laws final month, with two Republican women becoming a member of Democrats in help of the invoice. Following the vote, the Nevada Republican Party stated it was “horrified” that the 2 voted for the measure, exposing an intra-Republican rift about how you can deal with abortion laws in a post-Roe world. In different circumstances, that entails to what extent abortion entry must be restricted. The Nevada GOP didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark about Tuesday’s signing.

Earlier this month, Nevada’s Democratic-controlled Legislature superior a decision that will enshrine the prevailing abortion rights in the state structure, which might make it a lot tougher to repeal. After passing the 2023 session, it should additionally cross in 2025 earlier than showing in entrance of voters on the 2026 poll. That course of doesn’t embrace the governor’s approval.