The watchtower for Faith, Family, and Freedom Legislation

California AB1973: Abortion: authorized procedures.

☆ Watch
  1. Introduced
  2. Passed Assembly
  3. Passed Senate
  4. To Governor
  5. Became Law

Overview

AB1973 amends California law to expand which medical professionals may perform abortion procedures, removing physician-only requirements and allowing nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare workers to perform certain abortions.

Law Today

California law currently authorizes nurses, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and physician assistants to perform abortions by medication or aspiration techniques, but only during the first trimester of pregnancy, provided they have proper licensure and training.

If Passed

This bill removes the first-trimester restriction, allowing these healthcare providers to perform procedural abortions beyond the first trimester, and updates training requirements. For late-term procedural abortions performed by nurses or midwives, the bill requires written procedures for consultation and potential referral to physicians when care exceeds their training scope.

AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.

Should I support this?

  1. Strongly Oppose
  2. This billLikely Oppose
  3. Neutral
  4. Likely Support
  5. Strongly Support

Likely Oppose

From a Christian perspective valuing the sanctity of life, this bill is harmful because it removes gestational limits on abortion access and expands the categories of providers authorized to perform later abortions. The bill materially increases the ease and availability of abortion throughout pregnancy, which directly contradicts Christian convictions about the value and protection of unborn human life at all stages of development.

AI assessment using F3’s editorial criteria — faith, family, and freedom. This is F3’s policy judgment; verify the provisions in the official bill text.

Likely supporters & opponents

Likely support

  • Reproductive-rights and abortion-access advocacy organizations — Expanding abortion access beyond the first trimester increases women's healthcare options and ensures continuity of care in cases of medical complexity or fetal abnormality.
  • Medical professional organizations focused on women's health — Allowing trained nurse practitioners and midwives to perform these procedures addresses provider shortages and increases access to safe abortion care, particularly in underserved areas.

Likely opposition

  • Pro-life and religious organizations — Removing the first-trimester limit and authorizing non-physician providers to perform later abortions expands access to what they view as the termination of human life at more advanced stages of pregnancy.
  • Medical organizations concerned with procedural safety — Second and third-trimester procedural abortions carry greater medical complexity and risk, raising concerns about whether non-physician providers have adequate training and oversight for these procedures.

AI-inferred typical positions based on the bill’s substance — general stakeholder categories, not confirmed endorsements.

💬 Chat about this bill ↗Official bill text ↗View on LegiScan ↗

Official summary

An act to amend Sections 2253, 2725.4, and 3502.4 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts.

Sponsors

  • Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D)
  • Buffy Wicks (D)
  • Jessica Caloza (D)
  • Ash Kalra (D)
  • Gail Pellerin (D)

Status timeline

  1. 2026-09-27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 487, Statutes of 2026.
  2. 2026-09-27Approved by the Governor.
  3. 2026-08-31Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
  4. 2026-08-25Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 17. Page 6507.).A
  5. 2026-08-25In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.A
  6. 2026-08-25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10.).S
  7. 2026-08-11Read second time. Ordered to third reading.S
  8. 2026-08-10From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.S
  9. 2026-08-03From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.S
  10. 2026-06-17In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.S
  11. 2026-06-08From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 3.) (June 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.S
  12. 2026-05-27Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.S
  13. 2026-05-18In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.S
  14. 2026-05-18Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 53. Noes 16. Page 5133.)A
  15. 2026-05-14Read second time. Ordered to third reading.A
  16. 2026-05-13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (May 13).A
  17. 2026-05-13Coauthors revised.A
  18. 2026-05-06In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.A
  19. 2026-04-22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.A
  20. 2026-04-09Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.A
  21. 2026-04-08Read second time and amended.A
  22. 2026-04-07From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 14. Noes 4.) (April 7).A
  23. 2026-03-23Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.A
  24. 2026-03-19From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.A
  25. 2026-03-19Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and HEALTH.A
  26. 2026-02-14From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.A
  27. 2026-02-13Read first time. To print.A

H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly