Abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. The legality of abortion has been litigated in the U.S. Supreme Court and other courts since the 1973 case of Roe v. Wade.

In 2022, in the case titled Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, the Supreme Court reversed its decision in Roe v. Wade. The legality of abortion—including access to the procedure and any restrictions on it—is now determined on a state by state basis, with each state's abortion laws applying only within its borders.

In California, abortion is legally protected as a fundamental right for individuals to choose without excessive government restriction. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to set their own abortion laws, California has reaffirmed its commitment to providing access to abortion services. The state has statutory protections in place that ensure the availability of abortion, and it does not impose many of the restrictions found in other states, such as waiting periods or mandatory counseling. California law permits abortion prior to the viability of the fetus, generally considered to be around 24 weeks of pregnancy, and after viability if the abortion is necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant person. Additionally, California has taken steps to expand access to abortion services, including funding for low-income individuals who may not have other means to pay for the procedure.