“I wanted to inform my colleagues and the public about the realities of abortion restrictions that have been implemented over the years,” said a pregnant Arizona legislator during a speech at the state Senate, where she disclosed her plan to have an abortion.

Eva Burch, a Senator from the Democratic party representing Mesa, announced in a speech on the Senate floor on Monday that she will be undergoing an abortion due to her pregnancy being no longer sustainable. Burch, who has been in office for one term and has prior experience as a nurse practitioner at a women’s health clinic, shared her struggles with fertility and spoke of a previous miscarriage she had experienced.

Burch, who is 43 years old, voiced concerns about the limitations in Arizona, stating that they are not in line with current trends. She stated that according to state law, an ultrasound is mandatory, even though her doctor did not believe it was necessary. She also mentioned that she was provided with inaccurate information about options besides abortion.

During an interview with The Associated Press in her legislative office on Tuesday, Burch expressed that she saw this as a chance to showcase the actual impact of Arizona’s laws on people, rather than just in theory.

Burch has previously undergone an abortion, and is now planning another. During her 2022 campaign for office, Burch revealed that she had terminated a non-viable pregnancy and openly discussed undergoing the procedure.

After having two sons, Burch stated that she understands why women who have terminated pregnancies keep it a secret. However, she hopes to make known that the difficulties she has faced are shared by many.

Burch, who is running for re-election this year, also acknowledged that she wanted to shine light on a proposed ballot measure that would create a constitutional right to abortion.

Burch stated that if the Arizona Legislature does not function realistically, the citizens of Arizona should have a chance to take charge of certain decision-making processes.

Two bills attempting to limit abortions, both put forth by Democratic lawmakers, have not been granted hearings in committee as of yet. One of these bills seeks to do away with a pre-existing law, put in place before statehood was granted, which makes the majority of abortions illegal.

The Arizona Supreme Court is deliberating the future of the 1864 legislation. In a decision made in 2022, a lower court stated that doctors cannot be prosecuted for administering abortions during the first 15 weeks of pregnancy due to other Arizona laws that have permitted them to offer this service over time.

Aside from their actions in the Arizona Legislature, supporters of abortion rights launched a campaign last summer to urge voters to establish a constitutional protection for abortion. If enough signatures are gathered, Arizona would join a growing list of states that have allowed voters to directly decide on this issue.

The suggested change to the constitution would ensure access to abortion until the point where a fetus can live outside of the uterus, which is normally around 24 weeks of pregnancy. It would also permit abortions after this stage in order to preserve the mother’s life or safeguard her physical and mental well-being.

To place the question on the November ballot, the organizers must gather 384,000 signatures from registered voters by July.