A major abortion bill is advancing at the Arizona Legislature in a new political environment that could provide social conservatives with their first big state-level win on the divisive issue after years of losses due to vetoes.

The House Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday endorsed the Republican-sponsored bill on a 5-0 vote, with Democratic opponents boycotting the hearing and not voting on the measure. The bill now goes to the full House after what is usually a routine legal review.

The legislation would require a pre-abortion waiting period and mandatory disclosures to women seeking abortions. It also would allow pharmacists and health care providers to refuse to participate in abortion or emergency contraception on moral grounds. Other provisions toughen the existing law on parental rights.

Former Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democratic abortion rights supporter, vetoed every anti-abortion bill passed by the Republican-led Legislature during six years in office.

However, the new bill could find favor with new Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican and former legislator who describes herself as �pro-life.�

Brewer spokesman Paul Senseman said Wednesday the governor has not taken a position on the bill. But Brewer said in a 2006 candidate survey that she favored prohibiting abortion except when the woman's life is in danger and requiring mandatory disclosures and a 24-hour waiting period for abortions.

Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, said the legislation would not overturn abortion rights. It would provide women with information enabling them to make informed decisions as well as protect and enhance rights of women, parents and health care providers, she said.

�This would not prohibit one abortion,� Herrod said.

�I don't see why anybody should be opposed to this bill,� said Rep. Frank Antenori, a Tucson Republican who voted for the bill. �It seems like a commonsense thing to me.�

Several pharmacists endorsed the legislation's �right of conscience� provision, saying it would protect their civil rights.

�Anything less is unreasonable,� said Tucson pharmacist Marylyn Yee.

Democrats boycotted the 1½-hour committee hearing, saying they were taking a stand against legislation that would crimp the availability of abortion services and emergency contraception, particularly in rural areas with fewer health care options.

The bill is a step toward making abortion unavailable in the state, which would force women seeking the procedure to travel to California, said Rep. Phil Lopes, D-Tucson.

�We don't want to go back to that,� Lopes said.

Dr. Candace Lew, a Planned Parenthood Arizona leader and an obstetrician-gynecologist who practices in Tempe, said the so-called �informed consent� provisions are insulting to women.

�It is not government's place to make a woman's decision for her and this bill certainly attempts to do that," Lew said.