AB 1973: Abortion: authorized procedures.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California. Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of registered nurses, including nurse practitioners and certified nurse-midwives, by the Board of Registered Nursing. Existing law, the Physician Assistant Practice Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of physician assistants by the Physician Assistant Board.

Existing law generally makes it a public offense, punishable by a fine not exceeding $10,000 or by imprisonment, or both, for a person to perform an abortion without a valid license to practice as a physician and surgeon. As an exception to that prohibition, existing law authorizes a person to perform an abortion by medication or aspiration techniques in the first trimester of pregnancy if they have a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended license or certificate under the Medical Practice Act, the Osteopathic Act, the Nursing Practice Act, or the Physician Assistant Practice Act that authorizes the person to perform the functions necessary for abortion by medication or aspiration techniques.

This bill would instead authorize a person to perform an abortion if they are authorized under those acts to perform an abortion and would delete the restriction that the abortion be performed only in the first trimester of pregnancy. The bill would make conforming changes to specified training requirements imposed on nurse practitioners, qualified nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and physician assistants to perform those abortions. The bill would require a nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife performing a procedural abortion beyond the first trimester to establish, maintain, and follow written procedures that delineate the parameters for consultation, collaboration, referral, and transfer of care to a physician and surgeon, as specified, in cases that require care that is beyond the scope of their education, training, and experience.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 5

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 27, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 487, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 27, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 31, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 25, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 17. Page 6507.).
5. August 25, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 25, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 10.).
7. August 11, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 10, 2026From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
9. August 3, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.
10. June 17, 2026In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
11. June 8, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 3.) (June 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. May 27, 2026Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.