Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak makes a few remarks regarding the launch of the I-15/Tropicana Interchange Construction Project, Tuesday May 31, 2022.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022 | 2 a.m.
Related content
Gov. Steve Sisolak has signed an executive order protecting reproductive freedom for anyone seeking reproductive health care in Nevada, he announced in a statement Tuesday.
The move comes in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade last week. The landmark case from the 1970s guaranteed a woman’s right to a safe abortion across the country. Now, the decision on abortion’s legality falls to individual states.
“Reproductive health care is a basic human right, and Nevada stands firm in its commitment to ensuring there is safe and equitable access for Nevadans and anyone seeking refuge from the restrictive laws in their state,” Sisolak said in the statement.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, at least 13 states, including Arizona, have adopted laws imposing civil or criminal liability on people seeking abortions.
Sisolak’s order is an attempt to address this, saying no executive department agency or employee may report information to another state seeking to civilly or criminally punish either patients or providers of reproductive health-care services.
“No one should be punished for providing or receiving necessary medical care, including abortions, contraception and other reproductive health care services,” he stated.
Nevada boards and commissions that oversee health care and other licensed professionals in the state must protect doctors that provide reproductive health care, the order states, adding that health care professionals should not be disqualified or disciplined under another state’s laws.
The executive order also states it will not honor other states’ requests of extradition for doctors or patients regarding reproductive care.
Sisolak’s order follows similar protective measures by other governors, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed a bill Friday shielding out-of-state abortion-seekers from civil actions in their home states.
Reproductive health care includes all “medical, surgical, counseling or referral services relating to the human reproductive system,” according to the statement. “This includes, but isn’t limited to, services relating to pregnancy, contraception and the termination of pregnancy.”
