Democratic North Carolina Governor. Josh Stein released an executive order on Thursday, which he believes will protect reproductive health care across the state.
The order instructs cabinet agencies to protect women’s medical privacy and protect doctors who provide abortions in the state. It also directs them not to cooperate with efforts that would impose penalties or investigations on those seeking reproductive healthcare like abortion.
Stein stated in a press release, “Our state has experienced alarming attacks against women’s reproductive freedoms over the last few years. I am committed to doing all in my power to protect women’s freedoms and privacy.”
State agencies must also review, and if needed, revise, their data privacy policies relating to reproductive health care for women.
As state legislators prepare for more restrictions on access to reproductive health care under a second Trump administration, the executive order is timely.
Oregon’s Democratic Governor. Tina Kotek revealed that the state has a three-year stockpile of the abortion drug mifepristone in anticipation of Donald Trump’s return as president.
New Jersey’s Democratic Governor, Phil Murphy, pledged to begin stockpiling mifepristone as well earlier this week. Phil Murphy also pledged to stockpile mifepristone, citing concern over the incoming administration.
Trump stated on the campaign trail that, he wouldn’t impose a ban on abortion nationwide. He would instead leave the future of abortion to the individual states. In an interview with Time magazine, he also promised to protect the right to access medication abortion. However, he left himself open to breaking that promise by noting that things change.
Stein was previously North Carolina’s Attorney general before being elected Governor last year. He replaced the former Democratic Governor. Roy Cooper issued an executive order soon after the overturning 2022 of Roe V. Wade, protecting North Carolinians against extradition after they received abortions out-of-state.
Cooper’s executive orders also prohibit state agencies from assisting other states in prosecuting North Carolinians who receive abortions out of state.
North Carolina has amended its law since 2022. In July 2023, the state passed a ban on abortions after 12 weeks.