As of May 2026, women’s rights in North Carolina are shaped by a mix of restrictions, continued access, and ongoing political change.
The state’s 12-week abortion law limits …
As of April 2026, women’s rights in Wisconsin remain unsettled, but major policy changes have slowed for now. Lawmakers ended their legislative session early to focus on the midterms, …
Last updated: May 12, 2026
Nebraska is a state where many policies affecting women’s rights are already restrictive, particularly around reproductive healthcare. In 2024, voters approved a constitutional amendment …
As of April 2026 — Reproductive rights are increasingly shaped by how laws are enforced and how pregnancy is defined across states. Abortion access varies widely, while new federal and state actions targeting medication abortion are increasing pressure on how care is provided, including across state lines. At the same time, enforcement is expanding in some areas, and proposals tied to fetal personhood are raising new questions about the legal status of certain forms of contraception.
Illinois has become the country’s most important access point for abortion care, especially since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. Surrounded by states with strict limits or total …
Maternal health outcomes in Illinois reflect a mix of strong protections, expanded access, and persistent gaps in care.
While the state has taken steps to improve coverage and support services, …
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 ruled …
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 2024 presidential …
Federal laws play a powerful role in shaping women’s rights in the United States. Even when enforcement and impact vary from place to place, these laws establish national standards …
The word “protected” sounds definitive.
In everyday language, it suggests something settled—a right that’s been secured and placed out of reach of change. In law, the meaning is …
When people hear the phrase “abortion is healthcare,” it’s often assumed to be a political statement. In medicine, it isn’t. It’s a description of how pregnancy care …
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin stopped providing abortions starting October 1, 2025, even though abortion remains legal in the state. The cause is due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act …
In Wisconsin, new mothers covered by Medicaid (BadgerCare) lose their full coverage just 60 days after giving birth — one of the shortest periods in the country. A bipartisan bill (SB …
Last updated: April 2026
The 2025 One Big Beautiful Big Act (H.R.1) introduced sweeping changes to the Medicaid program—stricter eligibility and verification rules, increased administrative burdens, and …
California passed a law in September 2025 allowing doctors to prescribe and mail abortion pills anonymously, shielding providers from out-of-state legal targeting. The law expands on earlier “shield laws” by …
HB 7 authorizes private citizens to sue those who manufacture, distribute, mail, deliver, prescribe, or otherwise provide abortion-inducing drugs to or from Texas. The law exempts pregnant patients from being …
As more Southern states restrict or ban abortion, Virginia is emerging as a key access provider in the Mid-Atlantic and broader South regions. Recent reporting shows that abortions performed in …
In 2024, Texas expanded postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage from 2 months to 12. The bipartisan bill (HB 12) aims to improve maternal health by allowing new mothers to continue …
In November 2022, California voters approved Proposition 1, amending the state constitution to explicitly guarantee reproductive freedom, including abortion and contraception. The amendment added language to Article I, making clear …
On May 19, 2021, Governor Abbott signed SB 8, also known as the Heartbeat Act, prohibiting doctors from performing abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, typically around 6 weeks. …
On January 24, 2025, the Justice Department announced it would enforce violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act "only in extraordinary circumstances", such as …
