What would an overturned Roe v. Wade mean for Washington state?

After a copy of a Supreme Court decision draft that could overrule Roe v. Wade leaked Monday night, citizens of Washington state are asking what this could mean for them.

Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the authenticity of the draft on Tuesday, calling for an investigation into the “egregious breach” of trust.

Roberts did clarify that although the document is authentic, it did “not represent a decision by the Court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case.”

Locally, in response to the release, Washington Governor Jay Inslee tweeted, “Not here, not in our lifetime. Washington is and will remain pro-choice. And we will not slow down in the fight to ensure safe, affordable access to every person who needs it.”

Bills Inslee has signed include the Reproductive Parity Act of 2018 and the Affirm Washington Abortion Access Act of 2022.

The Reproductive Parity Act, state law since June 7, 2018, improves access to reproductive health benefits and preventive services for Washingtonians, regardless of income level.

The bill requires health carriers to provide coverage for contraceptive drugs, voluntary sterilization procedures and related doctor visits.

The coverage must be cost-effective and hampers the ability for health carriers to deny coverage for a multitude of reasons, including sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity.

The bill also specifies if coverage provides maternity care, it must also provide equivalent coverage to permit the abortion of the pregnancy.

Finally, health plans may not limit access to abortion services.

The second bill, the Affirm Washington Abortion Access Act, becomes effective in Washington state June 9.

The act helps to preserve a pregnant person’s ability to access abortion care.

In 1970, Washington became one of the first states to decriminalize abortion before Roe vs. Wade.

In 1991, citizens passed Initiative Measure 120, otherwise known as the reproductive privacy act, which helps to further protect access to abortion services.

The Affirm Washington Abortion Access Act updates the language of the 1991 measure, adding the recognition of transgender, nonbinary and gender expansive people may also get pregnant and require abortion care.

The new law specifies every individual has the right to choose or refuse birth control and the right to choose or refuse to have an abortion.

The state may not interfere with an individual’s right to choose or refuse an abortion, including interference with a decision prior to the viability of the fetus or to protect the individual’s life or health.

The act also ensures the ability of Washington abortion care providers to better serve any person that comes into the state seeking an abortion.

President Biden released a statement on the Supreme Court decision draft Tuesday:

The response from lawmakers and politicians across Washington:

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