California Governor's office announces that nine new bills have been signed to strengthen the state's reproductive healthcare system and expand access to care.

The package broadens reproductive freedom on multiple fronts, including medication abortion access on community college campuses and an expanded scope of practice for nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in abortion care.

Protections and expanded access extend to veterans, ensuring broader abortion care benefits for military families.

Funding and past actions anchor the package, including a June budget with $50 million for reproductive health and gender-affirming care, emergency funds for Planned Parenthood and clinics, and earlier measures like cross-state abortion care provisions and constitutional protections for reproductive freedom.

Perinatal and postpartum support are enhanced, featuring 26 weeks of paid maternity leave for firefighters and new resources addressing postpartum pelvic floor health.

New laws allow certified nurse-midwives to stabilize patients during emergencies or active labor without physician supervision and remove preauthorization requirements for Medi-Cal lactation care to aid nursing mothers.

Lactation services under Medi-Cal no longer require preauthorization, improving access for nursing mothers.

The legislation expands access to medication abortion on community college campuses and broadens who can perform abortions within licensed scopes.

The bills enacted include AB 1696, AB 1854, AB 1910, AB 1973, AB 2160, AB 2531, AB 2540, SB 526, and SB 1271, covering emergency nurse-midwife services, protected healthcare activities, pelvic floor health, abortion services, lactation, student health center public health, health facilities, and midwifery workforce data.

Veterans protections ensure access to abortion and comprehensive reproductive health benefits within California, aligning with federal program restrictions faced previously.

Contextual actions include prior funding boosts for reproductive health and gender-affirming care, expanded CalRx authority, and interstate coordination to safeguard access.

California positions itself as a leader in reproductive rights, emphasizing resistance to political interference and shielding care from potential federal or external restrictions.