Health and Safety Code section 123462

The Legislature finds and declares that every individual possesses a fundamental right of privacy with respect to personal reproductive decisions, which entails the right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy, including prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management, and infertility care. Accordingly, it is the public policy of the State of California that:

(a)

Every individual has the fundamental right to choose or refuse birth control.

(b)

Every pregnant individual or individual who may become pregnant has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child or to choose to have and to obtain an abortion, except as specifically limited by this article.

(c)

The state shall not deny or interfere with the fundamental right of a pregnant individual or an individual who may become pregnant to choose to bear a child or to choose to have and to obtain an abortion, except as specifically permitted by this article.

Source: Section 123462, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=123462.­ (updated Jan. 1, 2023; accessed Jun. 23, 2025).

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Verified:
Jun. 23, 2025

§ 123462's source at ca​.gov