Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signs series of bills limiting abortion access and transgender rights

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed three bills into law Wednesday that limit both transgender rights and abortion access in the state. The signings come one day before Transgender Day of Visibility, a day dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender-nonconforming people. 

Among the trio of bills is legislation that restricts physicians in the state from performing an abortion after 15 weeks, except in a medical emergency that could impact "the life and health of the mother." The law also requires any physician who performs an abortion after 15 weeks to document the reasons why, along with the estimated age of the aborted fetus, within 15 days of the procedure.

Physicians who violate the law, known as SB1164 would face a class 6 felony charge, the least severe felony designation in the state, and could have their license suspended or revoked. Failure to fill out the required documentation or falsifying information on them will be punishable by a fine of up to $10,000.