Committee backs ordinance to bar city travel and contracts with states that ban pre‑viability abortions

Supervisor Valerie Brown introduced an ordinance to add a second article to Chapter 12X of the administrative code to prohibit city‑funded travel and to restrict contracting with companies headquartered in states that enact laws banning abortion prior to fetal viability. The proposal mirrors the existing Chapter 12X provision that applies to states with laws discriminating against LGBTQ people and preserves the current 12X language while adding the new article.

Elizabeth Newman of the Department on the Status of Women said state legislatures have enacted a surge of restrictions and that the department will propose a semiannual list of covered states to the City Administrator and City Attorney for implementation. Planned Parenthood of Northern California told the committee the ordinance would signal San Francisco’s refusal to use public dollars in states that curtail reproductive rights.

Deputy City Attorney John Gibner clarified that the amendments remove proposed technical changes to the existing Chapter 12X and instead add a parallel article applying to abortion‑related state laws; the existing ordinance for discriminatory states remains unchanged.

Public testimony included multiple Planned Parenthood staff and community members urging an affirmative committee vote, framing the ordinance as a necessary statement of city policy and a public‑health measure. After hearing presenters and public comment, the committee voted to accept the amendments and send the item to the full Board as amended with recommendation.

Next steps: the ordinance will be transmitted to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration with the committee’s recommendation.