Seattle becomes sanctuary city for abortion care

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has signed off on four new laws aimed at protecting people's access to abortion and reproductive healthcare.

One bill calls for giving a quarter of a million dollars for the Northwest Abortion Access Fund.

According to Amanda Saxton with the Access Fund, nearly half of its donations this past year have gone to people in neighboring states like Idaho.

"Abortion bans in other states will continue to create a heavy impact on local clinics and resources, due to the influx of people receiving or in need of care," Saxton said.

Another new law establishes Seattle as a sanctuary city for people seeking abortion care and prevents Seattle police from pursuing out-of-state warrants related to abortions.

"Idahoans and the many others that will be forced to travel for abortion care should not have to worry about being arrested or harassed while doing so," Saxton said.

Another bill makes it a misdemeanor for someone to interfere, intimidate, or threaten someone seeking an abortion. A fourth law provides protected class status to people who have had or are seeking an abortion.

Seattle's new laws will go into effect over the next month. The city will officially become an abortion sanctuary on Aug. 31 and on Sept. 5, $250,000 in funding for the Northwest Abortion Access Fund will be released. The laws protecting the civil rights of abortion patients and making it illegal to intimidate people seeking abortions take effect on Sept. 14.