WRDI Watch

I couldn't send this week's newsletter without acknowledging Dolly Parton, who died this week at 80.

There are many ways to describe what made her remarkable: songwriter, performer, businesswoman, philanthropist. But perhaps what I loved most was that Dolly seemed completely comfortable being herself, and just as willing to let everyone else be themselves, too.

Her passing makes this late-August moment feel even more reflective. After all, it's a time of year that always seems like a bit of a pause.

Kids are going back to school. Congress is in recess. All but six state legislatures have adjourned for the year. And before everything picks up again, it seemed like a good moment to look back at a few of the developments that caught my attention this summer.

I've written about this before, but it bears repeating: as a woman, where you live increasingly shapes the rights and protections you have.

As federal policies change, states are making consequential choices of their own—some strengthening protections or expanding access, others moving in the opposite direction.

This isn't an attempt to capture everything that happened this summer. Just a check-in on a few changes that help show where things stand today.

— Julie

P.S. Wisconsin readers! On October 1, I'll be in Egg Harbor for an in-person conversation about what's at stake for women's rights in Wisconsin's 2026 midterm elections. Can't make it to Door County? Let me know if you'd be interested in a virtual presentation of the information. See What's New at WRDI below for more details.

Federal and state policies diverge on contraception

The federal Title X family-planning program is changing direction, with new funding priorities emphasizing fertility awareness, healthy pregnancies, infertility services, and family formation. Meanwhile, states are expanding contraception access in different ways: Georgia now allows pharmacists to provide certain contraceptives without an individual prescription, Virginia enacted a right to contraception, Maryland expanded access on college campuses, and Tennessee requires private health plans to cover a yearlong supply of birth control.

Maternity care remains out of reach for millions

A new March of Dimes report found that 1 in 3 U.S. counties is a maternity care desert, with no birthing facility or obstetric clinician. In Mississippi, West Virginia, and North Dakota, as many as 1 in 5 women and infants live in these areas. Women in maternity care deserts also travel an average of 42 minutes to reach labor and delivery care—three times longer than women in full-access counties.

Supreme Court sets a Title IX boundary

In June, the Supreme Court ruled that Title IX permits schools to reserve girls' and women's athletic teams for students assigned female at birth, upholding restrictions in West Virginia and Idaho. The ruling allows states to impose those restrictions but does not require them to—leaving room for different policies across the country.

Minnesota strengthens domestic violence protections

New Minnesota laws that took effect August 1 strengthen enforcement of firearm surrender orders and extend the window for warrantless arrests in misdemeanor domestic assault cases from three days to two weeks. The state also approved $12 million for victim services, helping fill a gap left by declining federal funding.

New Jersey expands its healthcare shield

On August 20, New Jersey expanded protections for reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare. The new law limits state cooperation with certain out-of-state investigations involving care that is legal in New Jersey, protects providers from certain licensing and malpractice-insurance consequences, and strengthens protections against interference with care.

What's New at WRDI

WRDI in the Community
This fall, I'm meeting with women's groups interested in learning more about WRDI and the laws and policies shaping women's rights — including conversations in Madison and Door County, Wisconsin.

On October 1, I'll join Northern Door Activism in Egg Harbor for a public discussion of what's at stake for women's rights in Wisconsin's 2026 midterm elections. RSVP for the event.

Interested in connecting with WRDI beyond the newsletter? Whether you'd like to bring a conversation like this to your own community or join an informal virtual gathering with other WRDI readers, let me know.

Track What's Happening in Your State

The rights landscape continues to look very different from state to state. Use our interactive map to see what's happening in your state across healthcare, workplace rights, safety, voting, and education.

View State Map