legislation – REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ALERTS

15 May

Louisiana looks to expand liability for abortions, which could lead to more lawsuits

MauraLatest NewsAbortion Ban, Healthcare, legislation, Louisiana, Reproductive rights

The Louisiana House of Representatives voted Wednesday to expand who can sue and be sued over abortions and to expand the definition of an illegal “coerced abortion.”

15 May

A Texas abortion ban sponsor aims to clarify when doctors can do the procedure

MauraLatest NewsAbortion Ban, Healthcare, legislation, Reproductive rights, Texas

Since abortion became nearly entirely illegal in Texas in 2021, the state has seen a significant rise in the number of women who die in pregnancy or after giving birth. A group of bipartisan lawmakers in the state wants to change that by clarifying the state's abortion ban with a new law.

14 May

Michigan lawmakers hear out fetal income tax exemption

MauraLatest Newslegislation, Michigan, Reproductive rights, United States

Michigan lawmakers discussed the mechanics of a tax exemption that would put fetuses on par with children when claiming dependents on taxes. House Bill 4202 would allow individuals who have a physician’s verification that they are at least 10 weeks pregnant by the end of the tax year to claim their fetus as a dependent.

08 May

Right-to-contraception bills highlight key reproductive health care debate in this year’s elections

CoreyLatest NewsContraception, GOP, Healthcare, legislation, Reproductive rights, Virginia

Contraception access is an issue resonating loudly within Virginia’s public and political spheres this year and last week, it manifested through state lawmakers contrasting Virginia’s twice-failed attempt to protect access to birth control medications against a similar measure that recently sailed through neighboring Tennessee’s legislature.

03 May

Conn. House Passes Climate And Reproductive Health Bills After Hours Of Debate

ChaseLatest NewsConnecticut, legislation, Reproductive rights, United States

After hours of debate, the Connecticut House of Representatives on Thursday advanced two major pieces of legislation, one charting a course for the state’s climate strategy and the other codifying reproductive health access for minors. Both bills now move to the Senate for consideration.

01 May

Commentary: Act now to shield New Yorkers’ reproductive health data

PatLatest NewsHealthcare, legislation, New York, Opinion, Reproductive rights, United States

Celeste Burgess, the Nebraska teenager found guilty of violating her state’s abortion laws, never expected that her private Facebook messages with her mother would be used as evidence in court. The messages revealed how she ordered abortion pills online and planned to conceal the pregnancy termination. The prosecution served Meta, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, with a search warrant to hand over the messages.

19 Apr

Under Idaho’s abortion ban, a family confronts life-or-death reality — and a crisis of faith

ChaseLatest NewsAbortion Care, Healthcare, Idaho, legislation, Reproductive rights, United States

As judges weigh the limits of medical exceptions, Idaho’s abortion ban is being tested — in courts, hospitals and patients’ lives

14 Apr

Oklahoma senators spurned fearmongering about women’s health. Will the House and governor step up?

PatLatest NewsContraception, legislation, Oklahoma, Opinion, Reproductive rights

A tip of the hat to Oklahoma’s state senators who managed to do some good governing that, for once, actually would help improve women’s health. These brave lawmakers voted to allow women to access six months’s worth of birth control at a time. That would make life infinitely easier for tens of thousands of Oklahomans who rely on contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies or to treat other medical problems such as acne, irregular periods or endometriosis.

11 Apr

Texas Republican lawmakers unwilling to change abortion laws to address doomed pregnancies

RandyLatest NewsGOP, Healthcare, legislation, Reproductive rights, Texas, United States

For the first time since Texas outlawed nearly all abortions, lawmakers are clarifying the “life of mother” exception. But they don’t plan to address cases where the fetus won’t survive.

11 Apr

Bill could open door to civil lawsuits over abortions and drive away OB/GYNs

RandyLatest NewsAbortion Rights, Florida, Healthcare, legislation, Opinion, Reproductive rights, United States

It also could threaten access to IVF and cancer treatments. This Florida Legislature continues its all-out attack on reproductive freedom. A near-total ban was not far enough for this extreme anti-abortion Legislature. Although the majority of Floridians — 57% — voted to limit government interference with abortion, Florida’s extreme anti-abortion politicians are ignoring the will of the people and seeking to further restrict abortion access in Florida. Now they are seeking to open the door to civil lawsuits for money damages against doctors — and even the friends, family, and clergy members who help individuals seeking abortion care obtain the…

27 Mar

A bill proposing a near-total abortion ban causes an uproar at Georgia’s Capitol

MollyLatest News, United StatesAbortion Ban, Abortion Care, Abortion Rights, Georgia, Healthcare, legislation, Reproductive rights, United States

"A crowd of protesters on each side of the abortion debate flooded a windowless Georgia Capitol hallway Wednesday with chants and signs as lawmakers held a hearing on a bill that would ban the procedure in almost all cases. Although the bill will not go anywhere this year because a deadline has passed for consideration by both chambers, the hearing granted by the House’s Republican leadership gave anti-abortion activists a chance to speak out on an issue near and dear to their constituents. Dozens milled about and shouted words of support or disdain for the proposal. Onlookers tried to squeeze…

25 Mar

Reproductive rights bills in Nevada Legislature tackle IVF, contraceptives, provider protections

PatLatest NewsContraception, Democrats, IVF, legislation, Reproductive rights, United States

Democrats in the Nevada State Legislature two years ago sponsored the Right to Reproductive Health Care Act, a broad bill that covered myriad reproductive health services, including pregnancy care, contraception and sterilization, and treatments for miscarriage and infertility.

06 Mar

GOP lawmakers push to charge women with homicide for seeking abortions

ChaseLatest NewsAbortion Rights, Anti-abortion, GOP, Healthcare, legislation, Reproductive rights, United States

Lawmakers in at least eight states — Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas — have considered bills to go even further, to punish women who seek abortions.

05 Mar

A New Missouri Bill Would Let Residents Donate to Anti-Abortion Centers Instead of Paying Any Taxes

RandyLatest NewsAnti-abortion, Healthcare, legislation, Missouri, Reproductive rights, Republicans, United States

Four months after Missouri voted to legalize abortion, Republican lawmakers are proposing a 100% tax credit — capped at $50,000 per year — for taxpayers who donate to crisis pregnancy centers.

28 Feb

NJ Assemblyman Danielsen Introduces Legislation To Place Reproductive Rights on November Ballot

MauraLatest NewsAbortion Rights, Healthcare, legislation, New Jersey, United States

Legislation that would put a constitutional amendment to codify and protect reproductive rights in New Jersey on the ballot for this November’s election was introduced on Tuesday. Sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Danielsen in the Assembly, ACR-156 would enshrine the fundamental right to reproductive freedom in the State Constitution.