Dear Neighbor:

As we gear up for the potential of a nation without the protections of Roe v. Wade and the right to abortion, California is taking action to ensure that those fundamental rights are upheld in our state. This week I, along with Speaker Anthony Rendon and our Legislative colleagues, and in partnership with Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and NARAL Pro-Choice California, introduced Senate Constitutional Amendment 10 (SCA 10) to explicitly protect abortion and contraception in California's constitution.

This is an historic moment, and it calls for an historic response. SCA 10 will safeguard our ability to make decisions about our bodies and access critical health care for generations to come. The amendment will reinforce that in California, these are private medical discussions between the patient and their health care provider, and should be based on scientific fact, not political agenda.

California has long been a leader in protecting reproductive freedom and providing reproductive services to women and families. This year alone, more than a dozen bills have been introduced that are aimed at not only protecting, but also expanding, reproductive rights. Additionally, the 2022-23 state budget proposals currently being negotiated by the Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom prioritize more than $125 million to shore up our existing reproductive health care services and infrastructure in California.

There are a few steps SCA 10 needs to take before it can be officially added to our state constitution. It will first be heard in policy committees next week, and then will need to be passed by a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and Assembly by June 30. From there, it would go before California voters in November 2022, where it would need to be approved by a simple majority.  We are at a pivotal moment in our nation's history where our rights, and people's health and wellbeing, are on the line. I am committed to ensuring that California remains a beacon of hope for women, families, and all people in the state and across the nation. In California, the choice to have an abortion is—and must always be—yours.

Sincerely,

Toni Atkins Senator, 39th District