Two state lawmakers are calling for a measure that would have abortion services covered by private insurance that covers maternity care. 

The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas and state Sen. Samra Brouk, is part of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus' Peoples' Budget released earlier this month. 

The measure is meant to address regulations that would create what sponsors call a comprehensive abortion coverage requirement that eliminates more narrow requirements like rape, incest or fetal malformation. 

At issue for the bill's sponsors is an insurance regulatory system they say ultimately leads to women in immigrant communities and communities of color being denied coverage. 

“In a time when reproductive rights are being rolled back across the country, we must work to ensure that New York State remains a beacon of hope for those in other parts of our nation," Brouk said. 

Lawmakers are also backing this bill ahead of what could be a landmark ruling for abortion at the U.S. Supreme Court later this year. 

“With the potential of Roe v. Wade being overturned New York State has to do more to ensure that we not only provide abortion care but that as many people as possible can access it. The current language in insurance regulations creates a good and bad dichotomy related to abortions that only perpetuate stigma," González-Rojas said. "The Reproductive Equity Act will change that and send the message across the state that New York will provide the care they need no matter how that person came to be pregnant."