AB 54: Access to Safe Abortion Care Act.

Official summary

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

Existing law sets forth provisions, under the California Constitution, regarding the fundamental right to choose to have an abortion. Existing law, the Reproductive Privacy Act, prohibits the state from denying or interfering with a pregnant person’s right to choose or obtain an abortion prior to viability of the fetus, or when the abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.

This bill, the Access to Safe Abortion Care Act, would make legislative findings about medication abortion, with a focus on use of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol. Under the bill, the Legislature would reaffirm that it has been, and would continue to be, lawful to cause the delivery of, or mail, ship, take, receive, or otherwise transport, any drug, medicine, or instrument that can be designed or adapted to produce an abortion that is lawful in the State of California.

The bill would set forth provisions regarding the lack of civil or criminal liability, or professional disciplinary action, for accessing or administering brand name or generic mifepristone or any drug used for medication abortion that is lawful under the laws of the state, on or after January 1, 2020, with this provision applied retroactively, as specified.

The bill would make its provisions severable.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 15

“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. August 30, 2026Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator McNerney.
2. August 25, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
3. August 24, 2026Ordered to second reading.
4. August 24, 2026From inactive file.
5. September 10, 2025Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Umberg.
6. August 20, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
7. August 19, 2025From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
8. July 16, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
9. July 1, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
10. June 30, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (June 25).
11. June 11, 2025In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
12. May 21, 2025Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.