Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, the Nevada governor, signed legislation on Tuesday late afternoon that protects the rights of abortion for both out-of-state women seeking treatment in the state and for those who provide care within the state.
Lombardo is one of only a few Republican governors who have taken steps to codify abortion laws. He’s also the only GOP governor from a swing state to do so. This could indicate a willingness to moderate on a topic that has become a political liability since the Supreme Court decision last year invalidating Roe v. Wade. This decision gave states a wide range of options to determine abortion policy.
Nevada has legalized abortions under a referendum that was passed by voters decades ago. Lombardo’s new law effectively codified an executive order issued by the then-Gov last year. Steve Sisolak, the Democrat who Lombardo barely defeated by a narrow margin in November. This order prohibited Nevada officials and agencies to assist in investigations by other states of their residents who sought abortion treatment in Nevada.
The bill also prohibits state medical boards, commissions, and licensing committees to discipline or disqualify physicians who provide abortion services in the state.
Lombardo made many contradictory statements during the campaign about his position on abortion. The Republican stated that his “personal belief” is pro-life and that would support a referendum that changes state law to prohibit abortions after the 13th weeks of pregnancy. He also acknowledged repeatedly that abortion is legal in Nevada up to the 24th weeks of pregnancy.
Lombardo also said during his campaign he would repealSisolak’s executive order on the abortion only to revert this position.
Lombardo is now part of a select group of Republican Governors, including Phil Scott from Vermont and Charlie Baker from Massachusetts who both left office in January. They have all passed laws in the past few years that protect abortion rights in their respective states. The Republican Party faces many challenges when it comes to reproductive rights. His decision, therefore, to sign the bill is a good example of this.
After the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate federal abortion rights last summer, Republicans have been struggling with the issue. The polling indicates that voters favor protections for abortions. This was the central issue in the successful campaign by Democrats to retain the U.S. Senate, and several key governorships. The party did lose control of the House but by a smaller margin than expected.
This trend continued into this year when a liberal Wisconsin Judge made abortion rights the centerpiece of her campaign to become the State Supreme Court. won by 11 percentage points.
While many Republicans, including some who are running for President in 2024, have proposed or pushed for stricter abortion restrictions.
Back in Nevada, the state Republican Party tweeted last month, when the bill advanced through the Democratic-controlled state Senate with the support of two Republican legislators, that it was “horrified” that the bill passed with any GOP backing at all.
A spokesperson for Nevada Republican Party didn’t immediately respond to NBC News questions regarding Lombardo signing the bill.
Lombardo received praise for his decision from Democrats across the state as well as abortion rights groups in both state and nationally — although many didn’t mention him by name. Some praised Nevada Senate Majority leader Nicole Cannizzaro directly, a Democrat that sponsored the bill.
“IT’S OFFICIAL – SB 131 was signed into law. This means that anyone seeking abortion care in Nevada can access it without fear,” Tweeted NARAL, the state branch of the national abortion rights organization.
“It’s official! Gov. Lombardo has signed SB131 into Law!” Tweeted Planned Parentshood Votes Nevada is the political arm of the national reproductive right group in Nevada. The group said it was “grateful to Cannizzaro and her fellow legislators for leading the effort to protect Nevada’s abortion providers as well as out-of state patients.”
Cannizzaro, on her part, thanked Lombardo in a Tweet, writing : “I want to thank him for following up on his commitment to make sure that Nevada will not participate in prosecutions against women who come to Nevada to exercise their reproductive right.”
