Abortion Resources

Yes––you may get an abortion in Arizona up until 15 weeks of pregnancy.

There are two major factors affecting the availability of abortion in Arizona. (1) The Arizona State Legislature passed a repeal of the total ban on abortion, but it won't go into effect until September 14th. (2) However, because of a ruling in Isaacson v. Brnovich, the law that's currently on the books (until 9/14) cannot be enforced until September 27th, so it's essentially invalid.

Instead, Arizona's 15-week limit remains in place.

The 1864 near-total ban on abortion brings Arizona back to the Civil War era––before Arizona even became a state, before women had the right to vote, and while slavery was still legal.

This ban prohibits abortion in all cases and during all stages of pregnancy, except when the pregnant person's life is in danger. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.

Thankfully, the Arizona State Legislature repealed this ban, and the repeal will go into effect on September 27, 2024.

Planned Parenthood of Arizona v. Kristin K. Mayes is an Arizona state-level court case where the Arizona Supreme Court lifted a stay on an near-total abortion ban that was previously stayed after Roe v. Wade made the law moot/invalid.

In their opinion on Planned Parenthood of Arizona v. Kristin K. Mayes, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that an 1864 near-total ban on abortion should be restored, as opposed to the current 15-week abortion ban.

This was a 4-2 decision by the Court. The majority opinion was written by Justice Lopez, and Justices Bolick, Beene, and King signed onto it. The dissenting opinion was written by Vice Chief Justice Timmer, and Chief Justice Brutinel signed onto it.

These clinics are currently providing abortion services in Arizona:

• Desert Star Institute for Family Planning - Phoenix

• Planned Parenthood - Glendale

• Planned Parenthood - Tempe

• Planned Parenthood - Tucson

• Camelback Family Planning - Phoenix

Please reference their websites, social media pages, and other feeds for more information on their current services offered, which may change at any time.

The 1864 ban would throw providers and those who aid and abet in abortions in jail for a minimum 2-year sentence. However, until the abortion ban is enforced (see Is abortion legal in Arizona?), you cannot be prosecuted for having or providing a legal abortion within the first 15-weeks of pregnancy.

After the ban becomes enforceable (45 days after the Arizona Supreme Court issues their mandate), the answer is still cloudy:

Last year, Governor Katie Hobbs issued an executive order that stripped county attorneys (similar to district attorneys) of their ability to prosecute anyone for having or providing an abortion. She gave the sole power to prosecute abortions to Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes.

Attorney General Kris Mayes has promised that she will not prosecute pregnant people or their doctors for having an abortion, but there is always a possibility that future legal action could force her office to prosecute. In addition, future Attorneys General could potentially retroactively prosecute.

Therefore, it is important to use great caution when obtaining or searching for abortion care, whether in-state or out-of-state.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes recently issued a guide which provides insight and resources for protecting your reproductive healthcare data. View the guide here.

In November, voters will have the opportunity to vote YES on the Arizona for Abortion Access initiative, which enshrines the right to abortion in the state constitution. That will reverse this 15-week ban and make abortion legal until fetal viability (approx. 23-24 weeks), or later for physical or mental health concerns.

We also need to flip the legislature to pass reproductive freedom measures that protect the right to IVF, contraception, and more healthcare decisions, and stop unnecessary restrictions on abortion care.

Volunteer with Keep Arizona Blue Student Coalition to mobilize young Arizonans and both enshrine abortion in our state's constitution, and flip the legislature! Sign up here and a member of our team will reach out with more information.