legislation

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

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

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

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

 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.
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Here’s how state lawmakers are taking aim at transgender adults’ health care

While much state policy and attention have focused on restricting gender-affirming care for minors, more states now are seeking to limit such care for adults. Lawmakers in several states have introduced bills that would prohibit Medicaid coverage of gender-transition services, prevent state or county health professionals from providing it, or bar the use of public money to pay for such care for adults who are incarcerated.
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Doctors who provide abortion, transgender care could get legal protections under Virginia bill

“Virginia moved closer Monday to shielding doctors from extradition if they provide reproductive or gender-affirming healthcare to out-of-state patients, advancing legislation that underscores the deepening divide over healthcare access and state sovereignty. The Senate narrowly passed Senate Bill 1098, sponsored by Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, which would block the extradition of health care providers facing criminal charges in other states for performing medical services that are legal in Virginia. Every Republican opposed the measure….”
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N.Y. moves to shield abortion medication prescriptions after Louisiana indicts doctor

“New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday signed a bill to shield the identities of doctors who prescribe abortion medications, days after a physician in the state was charged with prescribing abortion pills to a pregnant minor in Louisiana.  The new law, which took effect immediately, allows doctors to request for their names to be left off abortion pill bottles and instead list the name of their health-care practices on medication labels….”
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NH abortion ban: Bill to prohibit procedure after 15 weeks, introduced then withdrawn

"New Hampshire legislators introduced — and then immediately withdrew — a bill to ban abortions after 15 weeks in the Granite State Monday. The first public hearing on the bill, HB 476, was held on Monday morning in front of the House Judiciary committee. However, prime sponsor Rep. Katy Peternel, R-Wolfeboro, said she had decided to withdraw the bill. “After careful review, it has become clear that there is a flaw in the bill that prevents us from moving forward in a logical, reasonable, or obvious way,” said Peternel in a statement. “Without consensus among the pro-life organizations across New Hampshire, this bill does…
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Voters Backed Abortion Rights But State Judges Have Final Say

In November, Montana voters safeguarded the right to abortion in the state’s constitution. They also elected a new chief justice to the Montana Supreme Court who was endorsed by anti-abortion advocates. That seeming contradiction is slated to come to a head this year. People on polar sides of the abortion debate are preparing to fight over how far the protection for abortion extends, and the final say will likely come from the seven-person state Supreme Court. With the arrival of new Chief Justice Cory Swanson, who ran as a judicial conservative for the nonpartisan seat and was sworn in Jan. 6,…
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