Unfortunately, the long list of provisions states are passing and considering to restrict women’s access to reproductive health care is not comprehensive. State legislatures are constantly coming up with new and creative ways to impose obstacles between women and high-quality health care.
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La. House Bill Would Categorize Coercing Minor's Abortion as Abuse
Friday, May 3, 2013
A Louisiana House committee on Wednesday approved a measure (HB 278) that would add coercing a minor into an abortion to a list of acts that constitute child abuse, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
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Iowa House Budget Bill Would Bar Medicaid Coverage for Abortions, Elective C-Sections
Thursday, May 2, 2013
The Iowa House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved a budget bill that includes provisions that would end Medicaid coverage of abortions in any circumstances, as well as elective caesarean-section deliveries, Radio Iowa reports.
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Kan. Gov. Brownback Signs Sweeping Bill With Several Abortion Restrictions
Monday, April 22, 2013
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) on Friday approved a far-reaching antiabortion-rights bill (HB 2253) that restricts access to the procedure, penalizes entities associated with abortion providers and declares that life begins "at fertilization," the AP/Topeka Capital-Journal reports.
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Fla. House Passes Bill Criminalizing Death of Fetus in Violent Crimes
Monday, April 22, 2013
The Florida House on Thursday approved a measure (HB 759) that would make the death of a fetus a separate offense from a crime committed against the pregnant woman, the Miami Herald reports.
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Fla. House Passes Bill Requiring Care for Infants in Failed Abortions
Friday, April 19, 2013
The Florida House on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill (HB 1129) that would require physicians to provide emergency care if an infant is born alive after a failed abortion, the Miami Herald reports.
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Texas House Comm. Considers Revisions to State Booklet on Abortion
Friday, April 12, 2013
A Texas bill (HB 2364) that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy drew sharp responses from advocates, doctors and lawmakers at a House State Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday, the San Antonio Express News' "Texas Politics" reports.
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N.D. Lawmakers Build 'Litigation Fund' To Defend Antiabortion Laws as Residents Petition for Repeal Votes
Thursday, April 11, 2013
The North Dakota Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a budget amendment that would set aside money to defend against potential legal challenges to the state's recently enacted abortion restrictions, the AP/Dickinson Press reports.
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Kansas Lawmakers Send Governor Sweeping Abortion Bill Declaring Life Begins 'at Fertilization'
Monday, April 8, 2013
Kansas lawmakers late Friday granted final passage to sweeping antiabortion legislation (HB 2253) that would ban certain abortions, penalize entities associated with abortion providers and define life as beginning "at fertilization," The Hill's "Blog Briefing Room" reports.
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Fla. House Panel Approves Bill on Parental Rights
Friday, April 5, 2013
The Florida House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved a bill (HB 887) that would permit a woman who became pregnant through rape to go to court to terminate the rapist's parental rights, the AP/Miami Herald reports.
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Fla. House Panel Approves Bill on Failed Abortions
Friday, April 5, 2013
The Florida House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved a bill (HB 1129) that would permit misdemeanor charges if a person does not provide or seek medical care for an infant born after a failed abortion, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
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Fla. House Panel Approves Bill on Crimes Against Pregnant Women
Friday, April 5, 2013
The Florida House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday advanced a bill (HB 759) that would create a separate offense for criminal acts that result in the death of a fetus during an attack on a pregnant woman, the AP/Miami Herald reports.
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Sweeping Kan. Antiabortion Bill Heading to Gov. Brownback; Wichita Clinic Opening for First Time Since Tiller's Death
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The Kansas Senate on Tuesday voted 29-11 to pass a far-reaching antiabortion-rights bill (HB 2253) that restricts access to abortion care and penalizes entities associated with abortion providers, the AP/Chicago Sun-Times reports.
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Increased Polarization Among States Leaves Little Middle Ground in Abortion Debate, Advocates Say
Monday, April 1, 2013
Advocates on both sides of the abortion-rights debate say that states are rapidly becoming more polarized on the issue as they enact an increasing number of laws governing the procedure, the Wall Street Journal reports.
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Neb. Committee Votes To Continue Funding Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants
Monday, April 1, 2013
The Nebraska Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee last week rejected a bill (LB 518) that would have ended public funding of prenatal care for pregnant undocumented immigrants, the Omaha World-Herald reports.
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Neb. Lawmakers Advance Bill Expanding Access to STI Treatment
Friday, March 29, 2013
Nebraska lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a bill (LB 528) on a 32-3 vote that would allow health care providers to prescribe antibiotics to the sexual partners of patients infected with chlamydia or gonorrhea without the partner having to visit the doctor, the AP/Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports.
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Fla. House Subcommittee Advances Three Antiabortion Measures, Delays a Fourth Bill
Friday, March 29, 2013
Florida House subcommittees on Wednesday approved three antiabortion-rights measures, while a fourth bill -- which would effectively ban most abortions -- appears to have stalled, the Sunshine State News reports.
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Utah Gov. Signs Into Law Measure Requiring State To Collect Abortion Data
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) on Friday signed into law a measure (SB 60) that requires the state to collect and retain data on the number of abortions in the state, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
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Md. Bill Would Strengthen Workplace Protections for Pregnant Workers
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
A bill before the Maryland General Assembly would require companies to adjust the duties of employees who cannot perform their normal tasks when pregnant, the Baltimore Sun reports.
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Fla. Bill Would Create New Offense for Death of Fetus During Violent Crimes
Friday, March 22, 2013
The Florida Senate Health Committee recently passed a bill (SB 876) that would create a separate offense for violent acts against pregnant women that result in the injury or death of the fetus, the AP/St. Augustine Record reports.
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Utah Data Collection Bill Heads to Gov. Herbert
Thursday, March 14, 2013
The Utah House on Tuesday voted 56-17 to pass a measure (SB 60) that would require the state to collect and retain abortion data that it currently reports to the federal government, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
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Ind. Case Raises Questions About Criminal Charges Against Pregnant Women
Monday, March 11, 2013
Prosecutors in a case against an Indiana woman who attempted suicide while pregnant have asked that the judge ban defense attorneys from asking certain questions and bar courtroom spectators from wearing buttons with opinions about the case -- a move that critics say could limit jurors' sympathy for the woman, USA Today reports.
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Kan. House Committee Approves Sweeping Abortion Bill
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Kansas House Federal and State Affairs Committee on Thursday approved a broad antiabortion-rights bill (HB 2253) with several provisions aimed at restricting access to the procedure, the Lawrence Journal-World/Kansas City Kansan reports.
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S.D. Lawmakers, Gov. Close To Agreement on Expanding Prenatal Care
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The South Dakota Senate Health Committee on Monday rejected a bill (HB 1214) that would have provided prenatal care to undocumented immigrants, but lawmakers and Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) are working on a deal to attach the measure to the state budget, which lawmakers expect to pass this week, the AP/Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports.
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Colo. Lawmakers Consider New Charges for Crimes Against Pregnant Women
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Colorado House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted 10-1 to approve a bill (HB 1154) that would create a new category of felony charges for crimes against pregnant women that result in the death of the fetus, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
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Featured Blogs
Friday, February 22, 2013
"Anything But Delicate: Alabama's Solution to Substance Abuse During Pregnancy" (Josie Sustaire, Law Students for Reproductive Justice's "Repo Repro, 2/20) and "Something To Celebrate: Philadelphia Board of Health Calls for Public Funding, Insurance Coverage for Reproductive Health Care" (Claire Cooper, RH Reality Check, 2/21).
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Utah Senate Advances Bill To Collect Data on Abortion Patients
Thursday, February 21, 2013
The Utah Senate on Tuesday voted 21-2 to advance a bill (SB 60) that would require that the state collect data about women who obtain abortions, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
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N.D. Senate Approves Bill To Prohibit Embryo Destruction, Expand Medicaid Abortion Coverage
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The North Dakota Senate on Monday voted 24-23 to pass a bill (SB 2303) that would prohibit the destruction of embryos and expand Medicaid coverage for abortions, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
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New NARAL Leader Poised To Stop 'Playing Defense,' Reclaim Repro Rights Agenda
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
NARAL Pro-Choice America will stop "playing defense all the time" and work to create a more proactive abortion-rights movement, new NARAL President Ilyse Hogue said in an interview with the Huffington Post.
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Featured Blogs
Friday, February 15, 2013
"From the Ground Up: Restoring Insurance Coverage for Abortion Care" (Sweeney/Baden, RH Reality Check, 2/13).
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Second Attempt at Kan. Antiabortion Bill Seeks To Resolve Dispute Over Medical-Student Training
Friday, February 8, 2013
Kansas lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a bill (HB 2253) that aims to place several new restrictions on abortion while resolving a dispute from last year over medical-student training, the Lawrence Journal-World reports.
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Featured Blogs
Friday, February 8, 2013
"It's Up to Us To Defend Abortion Rights" (Mary Lou Greenberg, RH Reality Check, 2/5) and "State Politicians May Force Me to Turn Away Patients" (Stephanie Dahl, American Civil Liberties Union's "Blog of Rights," 2/6).
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Emergency Contraception Access, Other Women's Issues on Hawaiian Legislative Agenda
Monday, February 4, 2013
Hawaii's Women's Legislative Caucus on Thursday announced support for 17 bills on a range of women's issues, including breastfeeding in the workplace and access to emergency contraception, Pacific Business News' "PBN Biz Blog" reports.
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Iowa Bill Would Allow Felony Charges Against Women If Newborns Test Positive for Drugs
Friday, February 1, 2013
An Iowa House subcommittee on Wednesday advanced legislation (HSB 49) that would allow felony charges against a woman if her newborn tests positive for illicit drugs, the Muscatine Journal reports.
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Six Months After Neb. Prenatal Care Law, More Women Seek First-Trimester Care
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Six months after Nebraska enacted a law restoring prenatal care coverage for low-income women, health clinics are reporting a rise in the percentage of pregnant women seeking first-trimester care, the AP/Omaha World-Herald reports.
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Featured Blogs
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
"Where Abortion Bans Lead" (Juliet Lapidos, New York Times ' "Taking Note," 1/28) and "The Alabama Supreme Court Decision: Will it Make Delivering Appropriate Health Care to Pregnant Women More Difficult?" (Sarah Roberts, ANSIRH Blog, 1/25).
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Catholic Hospital Argues in Malpractice Case That a Fetus is not a Person
Friday, January 25, 2013
A Catholic hospital in Colorado is arguing in court documents that it is not liable for the deaths of two seven-month-old fetuses because fetuses are not people, USA Today reports.
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Neb. Lawmaker Offers Measure To Repeal Prenatal Care Law
Friday, January 25, 2013
Nebraska Sen. Charlie Janssen on Wednesday introduced a bill (LB 518) that would repeal a state law that restored prenatal care coverage for low-income women, including undocumented immigrants, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
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Neb. Bill Would Require Abortion Providers' Websites To Link to Ultrasound Videos
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
A Nebraska lawmaker on Thursday introduced legislation (LB 300) that would require abortion providers' websites to include a link to a state website showing ultrasound videos of fetuses, the Omaha World-Herald reports.
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Ala. Supreme Court Rules Child Endangerment Law Applies to Pregnant Women
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday upheld a lower court ruling that a state law prohibiting the chemical endangerment of children can be used to charge a woman for allegedly endangering her fetus during pregnancy, the AP/Columbus Republic reports.
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Mont. Antiabortion Groups Push New Restrictions After Last Year's Ballot Victory
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Bolstered by last year's approval of a parental notification ballot measure (LR 120), antiabortion-rights groups in Montana are pushing a bill (HB 104) that would criminalize the killing of a fetus, the AP/Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports.
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Forty Years After Roe v. Wade, Pa. Abortion Clinic Remains Battleground
Monday, January 14, 2013
On the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, activists on both sides of the issue at a Pennsylvania abortion clinic are drained by the decades-long fight, the Washington Post's "Wonkblog" reports.
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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Mass. Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone Law
Friday, January 11, 2013
A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a Massachusetts law that prohibits protests within 35 feet of abortion clinic entrances and driveways, the Boston Globe's "MetroDesk" reports.
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Ind. Feticide Case Draws Attention of Women's Rights, Health Advocates
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Women's rights advocates and mental health groups are seizing on the ongoing legal case involving a woman who attempted suicide while pregnant and has been charged with murder and attempted feticide, the Indianapolis Star/USA Today reports.
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N.C. Plans To Appeal Ruling Against 'Choose Life' License Plates
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
North Carolina officials intend to appeal a federal judge's ruling that it is unconstitutional for the state to offer license plates with the message "Choose Life" without also offering plates that support abortion rights, the AP/Raleigh News & Observer reports.
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Judge Hears Arguments Over Denied WIC Contract in Planned Parenthood Case
Friday, December 21, 2012
At a hearing on Thursday, Planned Parenthood argued that political motives prompted the Oklahoma Department of Health's decision to terminate the group's contract for providing services through the federal Women, Infants and Children program, the Tulsa World reports.
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Neb. Antiabortion Group Seeks Legislation To Display Ultrasound Images on State Website
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Nebraska Right to Life said Tuesday that it will pursue legislation that would require detailed ultrasound images to be posted on the state Department of Health and Human Service's website, the Lincoln Journal Star reports.
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Ariz. Launches Website With Abortion Information Amid Legal Battle Over Law
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The Arizona Department of Health Services last week launched a website about the risks of abortion, as required under a controversial new law (HB 2036) that also bans abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the Arizona Daily Sun reports.
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Mich. Lawmakers Delay Debate on Bills That Would Create Tax Credit for Fetuses
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Michigan lawmakers last week decided to put off consideration of two bills (HB 5684, HB 5685) that would have allowed state residents to claim fetuses as dependents on their tax returns, MLive reports.
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Planned Parenthood Files Suit Over Terminated WIC Contract in Okla.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland on Friday filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Oklahoma Department of Health's decision to end its contract for providing services through the federal Women, Infants and Children program, the Tulsa World reports.
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Neb. Legislature Gains More Supporters of Prenatal Care Coverage for Immigrants
Friday, November 9, 2012
The outcome of Nebraska's legislative election likely bolstered the position of lawmakers who support public funding of prenatal care for low-income, undocumented immigrants, the Omaha World-Herald reports.
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Featured Blogs
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
"Is Motherhood the Most Important Job? It Depends on Whether You're Poor" (Bryce Covert, The Nation, 10/29).
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Pa. Lawmakers Withdraw Support for Bill To Limit Welfare Benefits in Some Rape Cases
Monday, October 29, 2012
Three sponsors have withdrawn their names from a Pennsylvania bill (HB 2718) that would restrict additional welfare benefits to recipients who have a child as the result of rape unless they had reported the rape to authorities, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
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Featured Blogs
Friday, October 26, 2012
"The Sinister Motives Behind Challenges to Medicaid Funding of Planned Parenthood," Jessica Mason Pieklo, RH Reality Check, 10/24) and "New York City Launches Clinic Escort Program, Anti-Choicers Offended by 'Government Interference,'" Robin Marty, RH Reality Check, 10/24).
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Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over San Francisco Crisis Pregnancy Center Ordinance
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
A San Francisco judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging an ordinance that prohibits crisis pregnancy centers from using advertising that "mislead[s] women contemplating abortion into believing that their facilities offer abortion services and unbiased counseling," the Courthouse News Service reports.
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Featured Blogs
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
"San Francisco Judge Rules That Crisis Pregnancy Centers Cannot Mislead Women" (Tara Culp-Ressler, Center for American Progress' "Think Progress," 10/5).
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Okla. Ends WIC Contract With Planned Parenthood
Friday, October 5, 2012
The Oklahoma Department of Health will not renew a contract with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland to provide services through the federal Women, Infants and Children program in the Tulsa area, the Tulsa World reports.
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Calif. Gov. Brown Signs Bill on Abortion
Monday, September 24, 2012
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) on Saturday signed 25 health related bills, including one bill expanding access to abortion care for women, especially in rural areas, the Los Angeles Times reports.
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Vt. Antiabortion Protesters Sue City Over Buffer Zones Around Women's Clinics
Monday, September 24, 2012
Six abortion-rights opponents have filed a lawsuit against the city of Burlington, Vt., alleging that an ordinance requiring them to stay 35 feet away from reproductive health care clinics violates their right to free speech, the Burlington Free Press reports.
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N.M. Gov. Martinez Requests Removal of 'Forcible Rape' Language in State Policy After Complaints
Friday, September 21, 2012
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) on Wednesday requested that her administration remove the term "forcible rape" from a new state policy after the Huffington Post reported that the language had been included, the Huffington Post reports.
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Two Nebraska Planned Parenthood Clinics To Provide Access to On-Site Adoption Services
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland now will offer on-site adoption services at two Nebraska clinics through a partnership with an adoption agency, the Omaha World-Herald reports.
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Ind. Woman Charged in Death of Infant Rejects Plea Deal
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
An Indiana woman who attempted suicide while pregnant and was charged in the death of her infant rejected a plea deal on Friday that would have negated a murder charge, the AP/Miami Herald reports.
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Abortion Provider Pleads Guilty to Disorderly Conduct in S.C. Incident
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
An abortion doctor facing felony charges for pointing a gun at protesters pled guilty on Friday to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct, the Charleston Post and Courier reports.
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N.H. House Falls Short on 'Fetal Homicide' Measure
Friday, June 29, 2012
New Hampshire House lawmakers on Wednesday failed to override Gov. John Lynch's (D) veto of a bill (HB 217) that would establish a crime of fetal homicide, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
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Kan. Revokes Medical License of Former Tiller Colleague
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts on Friday revoked a physician's medical license based on allegations that she conducted inadequate mental health exams of abortion patients when providing second opinions for the late George Tiller, the AP/Athens Banner Herald reports.
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S.C. Gov. Haley Vetoes Bill on HPV Vaccine Information, Access
Thursday, June 21, 2012
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) has vetoed a bill (H 4497) that would have provided parents with brochures about the human papillomavirus vaccine and offered no-cost shots for their children, the Charlotte Observer reports.
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N.H. Gov. Lynch Vetoes Bill Allowing Homicide Charges for Death of Fetus
Thursday, June 21, 2012
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) on Monday vetoed a bill (HB 217) that would have expanded that state's homicide law to apply to fetal deaths after eight weeks of gestation, the AP/Boston Globe reports.
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Protesters Arrested at Va. Rally Accept Deal With State Prosecutor
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Thirty protesters who were arrested during a March demonstration at the Virginia Capitol have accepted deals that will remove the charges from their records if they meet certain conditions, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.
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La. Senate Rejects Amendment on Midwife Licensing
Monday, June 4, 2012
The Louisian Senate on Thursday rejected an amendment (HFA 4910) on licensing for midwives that was offered as part of a bill (SB 320) on health care providers, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports.
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Clinics Nationwide on Alert After Ga. Women's Health Facilities Attacked
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Abortion clinics and ob-gyn offices across the country are heightening security measures following a series of recent burglaries and fires in Georgia, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
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Physicians at Ga. Women's Clinics Suspect Fires, Burglaries Connected to Debate Over Abortion Bill
Friday, May 25, 2012
Ob-gyns who spoke out against a controversial abortion bill (HB 954) in Georgia believe that three recent burglaries and two fires at their offices were retaliatory crimes committed by antiabortion-rights activists, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
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Burlington, Vt., City Council Advances Ordinance To Create Buffer Zones Around Women's Clinics
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The Burlington City Council on Monday voted 13-1 to advance an ordinance that would create a 35-foot buffer zone around reproductive care clinics to protect patients and staff from protesters, the Burlington Free Press, reports.
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Ind. Case Shows Far-Reaching Implications of 'Feticide' Laws
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
An ongoing case involving a pregnant woman who attempted suicide is drawing attention to state and federal laws that make it a crime to cause death or injury to a fetus, NPR's "Shots" reports.
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The Tennessean Series Examines Abortion Laws, Access in State
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The Tennessean recently published a special series -- "Abortion in Tennessee" -- that compiles data, interviews and other reports about abortion access and policy in the state.
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Advocates Worry 'Wrongful Birth' Bills Could Allow Doctors To Lie to Patients
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Several states, including Arizona and Kansas, are considering bills that would ban so-called "wrongful birth" lawsuits, in which plaintiffs claim doctors failed to warn them about fetal complications that would have led them to choose an abortion, NPR's "Shots" reports.
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Advocates Rally in Cities Nationwide To Support Women's Rights
Monday, April 30, 2012
The advocacy group UniteWomen.org held "United Against the War on Women" marches and rallies nationwide on Saturday to protest legislation aimed at restricting women's rights, The Oklahoman reports.
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New York Times Magazine Examines Prosecutions Against Pregnant Women Under Alabama's Chemical-Endangerment Law
Friday, April 27, 2012
This week's New York Times Magazine examines Alabama's chemical-endangerment statute, which has been used to convict approximately 60 women of endangering the life of their fetuses or newborns since it became law in 2006.
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Three Texas Planned Parenthood Affiliates To Merge
Friday, April 20, 2012
Texas' Planned Parenthood affiliates in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and Waco on Wednesday announced that they will become one organization in a merger effective on Aug. 31, KXAN reports.
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Neb. Lawmakers Override Gov. Heineman's Veto, Restoring Prenatal Care Coverage for Undocumented Immigrants
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Nebraska lawmakers on Wednesday overrode Gov. Dave Heineman's (R) veto of legislation (LB 599) that would restore prenatal care coverage for low-income, undocumented immigrants, the AP/U-T San Diego reports.
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Reproductive Health Advocates Push N.Y. Lawmakers To Pass Reproductive Health Act
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Women's rights groups are pushing for Republican senators in New York to vote for the Reproductive Health Act, which would codify a woman's right to accept or refuse to take contraceptives and to her right to an abortion later in pregnancy if her health is at risk, the Poughkeepsie Journal reports.
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Iowa Senate Denies Confirmation of Appointee to Medical Board
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Iowa Senate declined to confirm an appointee to the state Board of Medicine because of her alleged association with an antiabortion-rights activist convicted of conspiring to bomb an abortion clinic, the Register's "Iowa Politics" reports.
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Maine Senate Hopefuls Vie for Women's Support
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Maine voters have elected a woman to the U.S. Senate for seven of the last eight decades, and their hesitancy to end that tradition could challenge former Gov. Angus King (I) as he seeks to replace retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R), the AP/Houston Chronicle reports.
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Neb. Gov. Heineman Vetoes Bill Restoring Prenatal Care Coverage for Undocumented Immigrants
Monday, April 16, 2012
As expected, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman (R) on Friday vetoed legislation (LB 599) that would have restored prenatal care coverage for low-income, undocumented immigrants, Reuters reports.
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Planned Parenthood Attorneys Ask Kan. Judge To Dismiss Criminal Case
Friday, April 13, 2012
Planned Parenthood attorneys have asked Kansas District Judge Stephen Tatum to dismiss the remaining 58 misdemeanor charges against a clinic accused of performing illegal abortions, the AP/Topeka Capital-Journal reports.
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Neb. Lawmakers Approve Prenatal Care Funding, Will Attempt To Override Possible Veto
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Nebraska legislators on Wednesday voted 31-15 to give final approval to a bill (LB 599) that would restore prenatal care coverage for low-income, undocumented immigrants, the Omaha World-Herald reports.
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Wyo. Supreme Court Rules That Antiabortion Protesters' Rights Were Violated
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled 3-2 that a temporary restraining order barring antiabortion-rights protesters from Jackson's town square violated their first amendment rights, the AP/Columbus Republic reports.
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Kan. Bill Sparks Debate Over 'Wrongful Birth' Lawsuits
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Abortion-rights advocates are fighting a Kansas bill (HB 2598) they say would legally protect doctors if they lied to pregnant women about prenatal problems to prevent them from seeking abortions, the Lawrence Journal World reports.
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Tenn. Bill Would Require Health Department To Post Names of Abortion Providers on Public Website
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The Tennessee House is considering a bill (HB 3808) that would require the state health department to post the names of abortion providers and information about their patients on a public website, the Los Angeles Times' "Nation Now" reports.
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Colo. House Approves Fetal Homicide Bill
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The Colorado House on Monday voted along party lines to approve legislation (HB 1130) that would make it a crime to harm or kill a fetus, unless the mother had agreed to an abortion, the Durango Herald reports.
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Ohio Senate Bill Would Regulate Men's Sexual Health
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Ohio Sen. Nina Turner (D) last week introduced a bill (SB 307) that would require men seeking erectile dysfunction drugs to first be screened for heart problems, visit a sex therapist and obtain a signed statement from their sexual partner confirming their impotency, the Dayton Daily News reports.
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Va. Democrats Criticize Police Action Against Protesters; Senate Approves 'Wrongful Death' Bill
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Several Virginia Senate Democrats in floor speeches on Monday denounced the treatment and arrest of reproductive rights supporters outside the Capitol on Saturday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.
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Calif. Bill Aims To Increase Access to Abortion Providers
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
California Sen. Christine Kehoe (D) on Friday introduced legislation (SB 1501) aimed at increasing the number of providers offering abortion care for women in remote areas, U-T San Diego reports.
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Kan. Senate Defeats Bill To Change Judicial Selection Process
Monday, February 27, 2012
The Kansas Senate on Thursday voted 22-17 to reject a bill (SB 83) backed by antiabortion-rights groups and Gov. Sam Brownback (R) that would have restructured the process for naming appellate court judges, the AP/Columbus Republic reports.
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Federal Judge Upholds Mass. Law Banning Protests Near Abortion Clinics
Friday, February 24, 2012
A federal judge on Wednesday upheld a Massachusetts law that bans protests within 35 feet of abortion clinic entrances and driveways, AP/The Boston Channel reports.
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Ariz. Bill Would Prohibit 'Wrongful Birth' Lawsuits
Friday, February 10, 2012
An Arizona Senate bill would ban so-called "wrongful birth" lawsuits, in which plaintiffs claim that doctors failed to inform them of prenatal complications that would have led them to choose an abortion, the AP/Mohave Daily News reports.
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Groups Push Neb. To Continue Funding Prenatal Care for Undocumented Immigrants
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Nebraska Right to Life, the March of Dimes and representatives of the Catholic and Methodist churches were among the organizations that called on Nebraska lawmakers on Tuesday to continue allowing low-income women who do not qualify for Medicaid coverage -- including undocumented immigrants -- to receive state-funded prenatal care, the Omaha World-Herald reports.
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Neb. Legislature Rejects Bill To Improve STI Treatment
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Nebraska Legislature on Wednesday fell four votes short of advancing a bill that would have expedited treatment for people exposed to sexually transmitted infections, the Omaha World-Herald reports.
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N.Y. Lawmakers Feud Over Reproductive Health Week Resolution
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Democratic-led New York state Assembly on Tuesday approved a resolution to designate Jan. 22 to Jan. 28 as "Reproductive Rights and Justice Week," but the resolution is stalled in the Senate, where the Republican majority recently stripped key language, the Ithaca Journal reports.
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Va. House Committee Approves Repeal of HPV Vaccine Mandate
Thursday, January 26, 2012
A Virginia House committee on Tuesday passed a bill (HR 1112) that would eliminate a state mandate that girls receive vaccinations against the human papillomavirus before entering sixth grade, the Washington Times reports.
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Okla. Bill Would Ban Use of Aborted Fetuses in Food Industry
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Oklahoma state Sen. Ralph Shortey (R) last week introduced a bill (SB 1418) that would ban "the manufacture or sale of food or products [that] use aborted human fetuses," NPR's "The Two-Way" reports.
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N.H. Lawmakers Consider Domestic Violence Bills
Monday, January 23, 2012
New Hampshire lawmakers on Thursday held a hearing to discuss two measures that would dramatically scale back current state domestic violence laws, My Fox Boston reports.
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N.H. House Approves Fetal Homicide Bill
Monday, January 9, 2012
The New Hampshire House last week approved legislation (HB 217) by a 213-125 vote that would allow authorities to criminally charge a person who causes the violent death of a fetus, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
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Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Cut From Screening Program for Low-Income Women
Friday, January 6, 2012
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has been removed from a program offering preventive health screenings to uninsured women in four counties, state Department of Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith recently announced, the Fond du Lac Reporter reports.
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Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Could Lose Preventive Screening Contract
Monday, December 19, 2011
Gov. Scott Walker's (R) administration recently told Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin officials that the organization will be cut from a program offering preventive health screenings to uninsured women, Mother Jones reports.
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Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks N.C. 'Choose Life' License Plates
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
U.S. District Judge James Fox on Monday granted a preliminary injunction preventing North Carolina's Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing license plates with the message "Choose Life," the AP/Winston-Salem Journal reports.
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Judge Suggests Ariz. Tax Credit Law Restricts Free Speech
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Federal Judge Roslyn Silver on Wednesday signaled that she might rule against an Arizona law (HB 2384) prohibiting residents from claiming tax credits for donations to charitable organizations that directly or indirectly support abortion rights, the Yuma Sun reports.
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Groups Challenge Ariz. Law Targeting Donations To Charities That Support Abortion Rights
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence on Wednesday requested a preliminary injunction against a state law (HB 2384) that prohibits residents from claiming tax credits for donations to charitable organizations that directly or indirectly support abortion, the Arizona Republic reports.
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Calif. Gov. Brown Signs, Vetoes Several Women's Health Bills
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) recently took action on several bills related to women's health issues, the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports.
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Calif. Bill Would Allow Minors To Receive HPV Vaccine Without Parental Consent
Thursday, September 22, 2011
A bill (AB 499) awaiting the signature of California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) would allow minors in the state to receive preventive care for sexually transmitted infections without parental involvement, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
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ACLU Sues N.C. Over 'Choose Life' Plates, Asks for 'Respect Choice' Plates
Friday, September 9, 2011
The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit asking the state to issue a specialty license plate that "supports a woman's right to reproductive freedom," WTVD reports.
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Calif. Bill Would Mandate Maternity Coverage in Individual Health Plans
Friday, August 26, 2011
Many individual health insurance policies in California no longer offer maternity benefits, but that could change next year if state lawmakers pass a bill (SB 155) to require maternity coverage in all individual plans, the Ventura County Star reports.
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Wis. Bill Would Ban Research Involving 'Fetal Body Parts'
Friday, August 12, 2011
Wisconsin Assembly Republicans last week introduced legislation (AB 214) that would prohibit the use of fetal body parts in research, the Madison Capital Times reports.
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New Calif. Law Addresses Antiabortion-Rights Demonstrations Near Schools
Friday, August 5, 2011
In response to a controversy over antiabortion-rights demonstrations at Los Angeles-area schools, California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) on Wednesday signed into law a bill (AB 123) that toughens penalties for creating disturbances near school campuses, the Los Angeles Times' "L.A. Now" reports.
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Wis. Planned Parenthood Prepares for Funding Cuts Under New State Budget
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Planned Parenthood affiliates in Wisconsin are evaluating how funding cuts in the recently approved state budget will affect services at their health centers, the Appleton Post Crescent reports.
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Maine House Rejects Four Antiabortion-Rights Bills
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Maine House on Tuesday rejected four bills aiming to restrict abortion access, including measures related to waiting periods, pre-abortion counseling, parental consent and crimes against pregnant women, the AP/Boston Globe reports.
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Minn. Bill Seeks Parental Consent for Minors' Birth Control, Other Care
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
A Minnesota Senate bill (SF 1017) would require parental consent before minors can obtain care related to contraceptives, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and drug or alcohol abuse, unless the health condition is life-threatening, the AP/San Francisco Examiner reports.
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