With so many states seeking to restrict access to abortion rights, seeing California try for the second year in a row to expand access is heartening. Last year’s move to allow more abortion providers by increasing the types of medical professionals who can offer first trimester abortions was bogged down by politics, resulting in a bill that only let a few dozen participate.

Via the L.A. Times:

A state lawmaker has revived a proposal to allow nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurse midwives to perform routine abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy as a way of expanding access to the procedure across California.

…

“As a former healthcare administrator in women’s clinics, I know from first-hand experience that safe and ready access to abortion procedures makes all the difference in the world in women’s lives,” Assemblywoman Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said in a statement. “Long wait times or having to travel long distances put basic services out of reach for many women.”

The bill is similar to that of Senator Christine Kehoe, who also sought to expand access by allowing more medical providers. Kehoe’s bill ended up gutted and reintroduced to only allow a few new medical professionals, and only after they had been through a specialized training program.

Here’s hoping this year’s version gets better results.