Citigroup has began overlaying journey bills for workers who exit of state for abortions due to newly enacted restrictions in Texas and different locations, turning into the primary main US financial institution to make that dedication.

The new coverage is “in response to changes in reproductive healthcare laws in certain states in the US,” the financial institution mentioned late on Tuesday in a public submitting forward of its annual shareholders assembly in April.

The submitting mentioned the journey advantages are “to facilitate access to adequate resources” and didn’t particularly point out abortion.

Citi will cowl transportation and lodging for workers who want to go away states similar to Texas for abortions, based on an individual accustomed to the matter.

Citi has taken stances on controversial points earlier than, together with in 2018 when it enacted restrictions on its purchasers who promote firearms following a number of US mass shootings.

Several states with Republican-led legislatures are passing new abortion limits in anticipation that the US Supreme Court will possible undercut constitutional abortion protections this yr.

In Texas, the general public can sue anybody who helps girls get abortions after six weeks. The variety of abortions in Texas dropped by some 60% throughout the first month after the legislation took impact on Sept. 1, based on state well being division knowledge.

Idaho’s senate has handed a invoice banning abortion after six weeks, earlier than many ladies know they’re pregnant. The new Citigroup coverage was reported earlier by Bloomberg News.

The submitting describes worker pay and advantages, in addition to environmental, social and governance insurance policies.

While Citigroup doesn’t have shopper branches in Texas, it has institutional companies there and has lengthy employed 1000’s of Texans in giant workplaces dealing with knowledge.