New York Democrats advance bill to fund abortion access with taxpayer dollars

By lauraharris // 2025-03-16

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New York Democrats are advancing Assembly Bill A2137, which would allocate taxpayer funds to cover abortion-related expenses, including transportation, lodging, childcare and doula support.
The bill has already passed the Senate and is expected to clear the Assembly, with Gov. Kathy Hochul likely to sign it into law.
The bill represents a significant step in New York's efforts to expand abortion access, setting a precedent for other states in the post-Roe era. It highlights the ongoing national debate over government funding for reproductive healthcare.
The legislation follows New York voters' approval of Proposition 1 in November 2024, which enshrined abortion and reproductive healthcare rights in the state constitution. This reflects strong public support for protecting abortion access.
New York also passed a comprehensive Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), adding protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, reproductive healthcare and pregnancy outcomes to the state constitution. The ERA was hailed as the "most progressive" in the nation.

New York Democrats are on the verge of passing a groundbreaking legislation that would allocate taxpayer funds to support women seeking abortions. The proposed bill, Assembly Bill A2137, aims to provide financial assistance to cover a wide range of expenses associated with abortion care, including transportation, lodging, meals, childcare, translation services and doula support. The bill, which is currently before the New York Assembly's Health Committee, has already cleared its Senate counterpart, S135, by a vote of 39-20 on Jan. 21. With Democrats holding a commanding majority in the Assembly (103-47), the legislation is widely expected to pass and be signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul, a staunch advocate for abortion rights. The passage of A2137 would mark a significant milestone in New York's efforts to safeguard and expand abortion access, setting a precedent for other states grappling with the fallout of the post-Roe landscape. As the bill moves closer to becoming law, it underscores the deep ideological divide over abortion rights in the U.S. and the ongoing battle over the role of government in funding reproductive healthcare. The Assembly is expected to vote on the bill in the coming weeks, with advocates and opponents alike gearing up for a heated debate over its implications for New York and beyond.

New York voters approve Proposition 1 in November 2024

This move comes in the wake of New York voters' overwhelming approval of Proposition 1 in November 2024, which enshrined the right to abortion and reproductive healthcare in the state constitution. "This past November, New Yorkers made their voices loud and clear with the passage of Proposition 1. This landmark measure safeguarded the fundamental right to abortion access and enshrined equal rights and protections for everyone in our state constitution," Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins declared on the passage of numerous pro-abortion measures including S135. "(T)his legislation reflects our unwavering dedication to protecting the health, dignity and rights of every individual in our state." "Equal Rights Amendment" (ERA) has solidified the state's status as a progressive stronghold by enshrining abortion access through all nine months of pregnancy and expanding protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. (Related: Abortion industry wants legal immunity to kill live-birth babies who survive botched abortions.) The amendment, which adds "sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy" to the state constitution's equal protection clause, has been hailed as the "most progressive" version of the ERA in the nation by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU). The amendment, which held 57 percent of votes in favor according to the New York State Board of Elections, builds on the state's 2019 Reproductive Health Act, which legalized abortion up to the moment of birth. "New Yorkers used their vote to permanently protect abortion statewide and showed up for LGBTQ, immigrant and disabled New Yorkers by approving the most progressive and comprehensive state Equal Rights Amendment in the country," the NYCLU wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Learn more about the legality and impact of abortions in the United States at Abortions.news. Watch the video below that talks about abortionists seeking to break state laws internationally.

This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com.

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New York voters approve Proposition 1 in November 2024

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