Assembly Bill 260 Clears California State Legislature, Heads to Governor Newsom’s Desk Bill strengthens patient and provider protections as national attacks on reproductive healthcare escalate

(SACRAMENTO, CA) — On Wednesday, September 10, Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry’s (D-Winters) Assembly Bill 260 (AB 260) passed out of the California State Legislature on an assembly concurrence vote of 61-12-7 and now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.

AB 260 safeguards access to medication abortion in California, ensuring mifepristone—a safe, FDA-approved medication used for more than two decades—remains legal and available in the state. The bill protects patients, healthcare providers, and facilities from hostile actions pursued by other states and the federal government. Before the bill left the senate, lawmakers added an urgency clause to ensure the protections take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature. Additional provisions were adopted to strengthen patient protections, a response to escalating threats to reproductive healthcare nationwide.

There is already a need for the urgency clause with a recent Texas lawsuit against a California provider and the advancement of a measure by Texas lawmakers to allow private citizens to sue doctors, distributors, and manufacturers of medication abortion anywhere in the country for up to $100,000.

“AB 260 is about making sure Californians can get the care they need without fear or politics getting in the way,” said Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry. “While other states are turning back the clock, California is standing strong because—abortion care is healthcare, and we’re going to keep it safe, legal, and available to those who need it. We refuse to go back.”

AB 260 is co-sponsored by leading reproductive rights organizations and supported by state leaders including Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and State Treasurer Fiona Ma. The measure builds on California’s constitutional commitment to reproductive freedom, affirmed by voters in 2022.

With AB 260, California continues to stand as a national leader in protecting reproductive rights and ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all.

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