North Carolina Governor Josh Stein made his first official visit to Charlotte to announce a new abortion-related executive order.
During his official press conference yesterday, Stein outlined the order’s aim to increase abortion access and patient privacy across our state.
The executive order directs NC cabinet agencies to safeguard medical privacy, and to protect abortion doctors and nurses from penalties, including investigations or prosecutions. It also requires agencies to review policies on abortion data collection and revise them to enhance privacy protections.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) must differentiate licensed health care providers from other entities, such as pregnancy crisis centers, in its materials. Stein also directed DHHS to strengthen access to birth control and abortion-related medications.
“I am directing my cabinet agencies to take specific action to protect women and health care providers from extreme anti-reproductive freedom laws,” said Governor Stein in a press release.
As Governor, I am committed to doing everything in my power to protect women’s freedoms and privacy. Today, I directed my cabinet agencies to protect women and health care providers from other states’ extreme laws that make them less safe. pic.twitter.com/88HuWCi1ES
— Governor Josh Stein (@NC_Governor) January 16, 2025
You can read the new Governor’s full executive order here.
