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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WRDI Watch
As April turned into May, I had a bit of a visceral reaction to a few of the headlines, including the latest Supreme Court ruling. But more on that later. …
Voting in Florida is changing—both access and representation
Florida has made several changes to its voting system in recent years, adding new requirements for voters and redrawing congressional district maps. A new law (H0991) will require proof of …
Restrictions changed abortion access—but didn’t eliminate it
Florida has been at the center of policy changes affecting women’s health and rights. In 2024, the state implemented a six-week abortion ban after the Florida Supreme Court …
Voting in Alaska: Built for distance, facing new uncertainty
Alaska’s voting system is designed to accommodate a large and geographically remote state, with widespread use of mail voting and policies that allow ballots to be counted after election …
How Alaska is responding to violence against women
Updated on May 18 to reflect the passage of HB48. Alaska is taking steps to strengthen how it responds to violence against women, with recent efforts focused on expanding victim …
Ongoing policy changes are reshaping women’s paths to leadership
Recent federal decisions are adding to a broader pattern of changes that are reshaping how women enter, advance within, and participate in leadership roles. In May, the U.S. Department …
Two new federal actions highlight growing pressure on access to medication abortion
Two recent federal developments are drawing new attention to medication abortion, which is now used in more than half of all abortions in the United States. On May 1, a …
Tennessee shares voter data with the DOJ, raising questions about privacy and oversight
In 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice requested voter registration data from states as part of a broader effort to review voter rolls. In 2026, Tennessee complied, providing its …
Fewer options, more uncertainty: Abortion access in Tennessee
As of 2026, Tennessee has one of the strictest abortion laws in the country, with a near-total ban and very limited exceptions. For most people, abortion care is not …
Access without clarity: IVF in Alabama
As of 2026, access to IVF in Alabama remains shaped by ongoing legal uncertainty following a 2024 state Supreme Court ruling that classified frozen embryos as “children” under state law. …
Oregon expands maternal care: From coverage to access
In 2026, Oregon is expanding access to maternal healthcare by requiring insurance coverage for perinatal support services and investing in a broader system to deliver them. A new law, Senate …