AB-1973 • 2026

Abortion: authorized procedures.

Abortion Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Aguiar-Curry
Last action: 2026-04-22
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about updated training requirements or the exact timing of when abortions can be performed after the first trimester.

Abortion Procedures: Expanded Authorization

This law changes the rules for who can perform abortions, removing limits on when they can be done.

What This Bill Does

Removes restrictions that limited abortion procedures only to the first trimester of pregnancy.
Requires nurse practitioners and certified nurse-midwives performing procedural abortions to establish plans for working with doctors in complex cases or under other specified circumstances.

Who It Names or Affects

People licensed as physicians, surgeons, nurses (including nurse practitioners), and physician assistants who want to perform abortions.
Patients seeking abortion services from these healthcare providers.

Terms To Know

First trimester: The first three months of pregnancy.
Nurse practitioner: A registered nurse with advanced training who can provide primary care and some medical procedures.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if the bill is signed into law by the governor.
The exact details of how healthcare providers will be trained are not fully explained in this summary.
It does not address other aspects of abortion laws beyond who can perform them and when.

Bill History

2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 14. Noes 4.) (April 7).
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and HEALTH.
2026-02-14 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
2026-02-13 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1973, as amended, Aguiar-Curry.
Abortion: authorized procedures.
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,
nurse-midwives,
and physician assistants to perform
those abortions.
The bill would require a nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife performing a procedural abortion to establish and maintain procedures for consultation, collaboration, referral, and transfer of care to a physician and surgeon in complex cases and under other specified circumstances.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF