North Carolina’s Governor Josh Stein introduces new abortion protections as Trump prepares to take office, ensuring privacy for patients and providers.
Stein’s executive order tells state agencies not to help with any prosecutions against health care providers who offer legal reproductive services, including abortions. Plus, they need to rethink how they handle patients’ reproductive health data to keep it safe.
This move builds on what former Governor Roy Cooper did back in 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Cooper had already put protections in place for patients coming from other states.
North Carolina is one of the few Southern states that still allows access to abortion beyond six weeks. Even though the GOP-led legislature tried to limit it to 12 weeks, a federal judge shot down part of that law last year.
With the recent elections, it looks like any new anti-abortion laws will face a tougher road ahead. Stein’s veto power should be stronger now, which is good news for those who support reproductive rights.
