North Carolina - What to watch in 2026
As of October, North Carolina is a state where recent shifts in political control have directly shaped women's rights policy. Because many protections are established through state law …
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After voters protected abortion rights, Arizona courts are shaping what comes next
In February 2026, an Arizona state court struck down several abortion restrictions, ruling they conflicted with Proposition 139—a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2024 that protects abortion access …
The gender pay gap is widening - again
Recent data shows the gender pay gap widened again in 2025, in both hourly and salaried occupations, continuing a concerning shift after years of slow progress. Women earned about 82. …
WRDI Watch
Note from Julie Hi — I’m Julie, founder of the Women’s Rights Data Initiative. I started WRDI because I was struggling to understand what was actually happening to women’ …
Voting changes to watch right now
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, several developments are reshaping the voting landscape across the United States. In Washington, the House has once again passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility …
Why laws alone don’t guarantee women’s rights
Each March, Women’s History Month invites reflection on the progress women have made — and the work that remains. International Women’s Day (March 8) similarly serves as a global …
States move to strengthen reproductive rights protections
Several states are advancing policies designed to strengthen protections for reproductive healthcare, including laws that shield providers from out-of-state legal actions, protect patients traveling for care, and expand …
Ohio law brings major changes to public universities in 2026
Ohio’s public universities are beginning to implement major provisions of a higher education law passed in 2025. Senate Bill 1—known as the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act—introduces …
Kansas passes law reversing gender identity policies
On February 18, 2026, Kansas enacted Senate Bill 244, a law defining sex in state law based on biological characteristics at birth and requiring state agencies to apply that definition …
Ohio changes voting rules ahead of the 2026 elections
Ohio has enacted a new law revising several aspects of the state’s election procedures, including voter registration verification, identification requirements, and absentee ballot timelines. The legislation, Senate Bill 293, …
States test new legal penalties and enforcement around abortion restrictions
Several states are advancing new policies that expand how abortion restrictions are enforced, including proposals that introduce criminal penalties, broaden legal definitions of fetal personhood, or create new legal mechanisms …
California expands insurance coverage for IVF
A California law requiring certain health insurance plans to cover infertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), took effect on January 1, 2026. It expands existing state requirements and applies …
How Project 2025 uses executive authority to shape women’s rights
Project 2025 is a long-term policy blueprint created by a group of conservative organizations and led by the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank. Released ahead of the …