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 …
Latest news (Page 13)
The criminalization of abortion care continues - in ND, SC, and MO
As lawmakers and courts revisit abortion restrictions across the country, more states are treating reproductive health care —including both pregnancy outcomes as well as abortion — as a potential criminal offense. …
Workplace benefits delayed in Maryland until 2028
In 2022, Maryland enacted a statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program designed to provide workers with paid time off for caregiving, medical needs, and family leave. In …
Federal investigation tests Oregon’s trans-inclusive school policies
In 2025, federal officials opened an investigation into Oregon school districts’ policies allowing transgender students to participate in school sports consistent with their gender identity. No final findings or major …
Gun-safety law leaves gaps in Virginia’s safety landscape
Virginia ranks among the stronger states nationally on gun safety, with laws designed to restrict firearm access during high-risk situations and protect people from gun-related harm. But recent …
New lawsuit says Virginia is disenfranchising college voters - especially at HBCUs
Civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit in November 2025 alleging that Virginia’s voter-registration practices unlawfully block college students who live on campus from registering to vote. The …
Oregon protects abortion access after federal funding disruptions
Oregon law continues to protect abortion access. As a result, the state has become a regional destination for care as restrictions tighten in surrounding states. Earlier this year, federal budget …
Reproductive Freedom Amendment heads toward a 2026 vote in Virginia
In early 2025, Virginia lawmakers approved the first step of a reproductive freedom constitutional amendment (SJ 247) designed to protect abortion, contraception, miscarriage care, and IVF. To become law, the …
Transgender students targeted in new VA state directive
Governor Youngkin’s October 2025 directive instructs Virginia state officials to create new rules restricting transgender students’ access to girls’ sports and school facilities. Many school divisions had already rejected …
Shutdown + Choice: Why the USDA's refusal to tap food funding matters for women
Editor’s note: This post was updated on Nov. 12, 2025, to reflect new developments in SNAP program payments. November 1, 2025 - As the government shutdown stretches on, federal nutrition …
Texas Medicaid at a crossroads
Texas’ Medicaid program covers millions of low-income children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities. But the state remains one of ten that have not expanded Medicaid to cover …
Wisconsin advances two healthcare access bills
Wisconsin lawmakers took two meaningful steps in 2025 to make healthcare more accessible for women. The first measure would let pharmacists prescribe birth control pills and patches directly to adults …
California encourages provider training on menopause and mental health
On September 27, 2024, California passed Assembly Bill 2270, a new law that tells several state licensing boards — including those that oversee doctors, nurses, therapists, and psychologists — to consider adding …