Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs on Thursday signed into law a repeal of the state's 160-year-old abortion ban, rescinding one of the nation's most restrictive abortion laws after weeks of hard-fought political negotiation at the state capitol.

"Today we are doing what 23 governors and 55 legislatures refused to do, and I am so proud to be the ones that got this job done," Hobbs said, reaffirming in brief remarks that she would "do everything in my power to protect our reproductive freedoms, because I trust women to make the decisions that are best for them."

About 30 Democratic lawmakers and abortion rights advocates from Planned Parenthood and other groups stood beside the governor as she signed the bill at her office at the Capitol complex.

But neither the governor's signature, nor the Arizona Legislature's momentous decision Wednesday to repeal the ban, will bring stability right away to a policy area that has been in flux — and a subject of intense political debate — for nearly two years. The Arizona Supreme Court renewed that uncertainty with its high-profile decision in April upholding the Civil War-era abortion policy.