A giant inflatable IUD is displayed in front of the Virginia Capitol in Richmond, February 7, 2025. Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a bill Wednesday that protects birth control rights in the state and requires insurers to cover contraception. (Photo: Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)
Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a bill Wednesday guaranteeing contraceptive rights in the commonwealth – legislation that the General Assembly approved in previous sessions but was rejected by her predecessor.
“After spending years in the Senate defending this legislation and watching Glenn Youngkin veto it, I am pleased to see the legislation signed into law and codified into law,” said Democratic Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi. he said on social media.
Spanberger too approved Act on contraceptive capital, a Bill which requires health insurers to cover prescription and over-the-counter contraceptives without any co-pays for patients, Virginia Mercury reported.
Virginia voters have a chance to strengthen the right to contraception, infertility treatment, maternal health care and first- and second-trimester abortions in November when the reproductive rights proposal is proposed. constitutional amendment is expected to appear on the ballot.
Reproductive rights advocates in Georgia are encouraging Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to sign the agreement legislation sent to his desk this week that would allow pharmacists to dispense certain hormonal contraceptives to patients.
“Georgians are already struggling with the consequences of political interference in our health care, from abortion bans to provider shortages, and we know that expanding access to birth control saves lives,” said Alicia Stallworth, state director of Campaigns for Reproductive Freedom for All statement.
The bill cleared the Legislature with bipartisan support. Republican Rep. Beth Camp introduced the legislation after her daughter had to wait months for a prescription refill for contraceptives. Registrar from Georgia reported.
Elsewhere, abortion opponents in Arizona, Tennessee and Mississippi are pushing bills that could make it harder for people to access abortion drugs.
AND measure being considered in the Tennessee Senate would allow people to file wrongful death lawsuits against out-of-state abortion pill providers and manufacturers.
“Passing this legislation is a critical step in our efforts to promote life, protect women and ensure that morality defines our rights,” Tennessee Republican Gino Bulso said in a speech press release after the House passed the bill last month.
Our reproductive rights reporting team follows these laws closely. Depending on the partisan makeup of the state legislature and other state government officials, some bills are more likely to pass and become law than others.
Lawmakers are looking into out-of-state abortion providers and pill manufacturers
Arizona
House Bill 2364: A February state court ruling cleared the way for Planned Parenthood clinics in Arizona to offer abortions with telehealth medications. However, the bill heading to the Legislature would effectively make it illegal to send and receive abortion pills by mail, Arizona’s mirror reported.
People who mail abortion drugs — including providers, pharmacists, manufacturers and suppliers — would be guilty of a crime and could face one to two-and-a-half years in prison and a $150,000 fine. Anyone who “orders, requests, receives or attempts to receive” abortion drugs by mail could face criminal penalties six months in prisona $2,500 fine and three years’ probation if the bill becomes law. Penalties do not apply if the tablets are used for other obstetric purposes.
Status: The House approved the bill in behind schedule February, and the Senate Rules Committee presented the proposal on Tuesday
Sponsor: Republican Rachel Keshel
Mississippi
House Bill 1613: This legislation would make it illegal to sell, intend to sell, manufacture, distribute or dispense abortion-inducing drugs in Mississippi, prohibiting all abortions unless the life or health of the mother is in danger.
Violators can face up to 10 years in prison, and the state’s attorney general can also enforce civil penalties. Mississippi Free Press reported.
The House passed the bill in February and the Senate approved it on March 11, but the bill returned to the lower house for approval of amendments — minor language tweaks — and conference reports.
Status: GOP Gov. Tate Reeves’ signature or veto on Monday
Sponsors: Republicans Kevin Horan and William Tracy Arnold. GOP Rep. Celeste Hurt initially amended the bill to add “drugs that cause miscarriage” to the list of controlled substances.
Tennessee
House Bill 0005/Senate Bill 0419: An amended version of this bill would allow citizens to file wrongful death lawsuits against out-of-state providers and manufacturers who mail abortion drugs to patients in Tennessee. The patient or fetal beneficiary could receive a $1 million judgment in “statutory damages” if her claim is successful in court. According to the State of Tennessee, the proposal does not apply to pharmacists, Tennessee-licensed physicians or carriers. GOP Club.
Status: Passed by the House, placed on Senate reset calendar on Thursday
Sponsors: Rep. Gino Bulso and Senator Joey Hensley, Republicans
Birth control access bills have reached the finish line
Georgia
House Bill 1138: This measure would allow pharmacists to prescribe certain hormonal contraceptives, such as contraceptive pills and injections, to adults Registrar from Georgia reported. Patients under 18 years of age can receive contraceptives from pharmacists if they have previously obtained them with a prescription.
Status: I went to Republican Governor Brian Kemp’s desk
Sponsors: Rep. Beth Camp and Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, Republicans
Virginia
House Bill 6/Senate Bill 596: This legislation establishes a right to contraception, allows people to sue if their rights are violated, and requires insurers to cover prescription and over-the-counter contraceptives without cost-sharing for patients, Virginia Mercury reported.
Status: Signed Wednesday by Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger
Sponsors: Del. Marcia “Cia” Price and Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, Democrats
Republican-majority statehouses pass sex education laws
Alabama
Senate Bill No. 209: This bill would require teachers to teach “sexual risk avoidance” – abstinence. Instructors would be prohibited from teaching students about contraception, but parents could opt their children out of sex education classes. Alabama reflector reported.
Status: On Republican Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk
Sponsor: GOP Sen. Shay Shelnutt
Arizona
Draft Housing Act 2040: This measure would require public schools to provide students with information about adoption if they also teach students about reproductive health, such as contraception and sexually transmitted diseases, Arizona’s mirror reported. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed the bill Tuesday after the Republican-controlled Legislature sent it to her desk.
Status: Vetoed
Sponsor: Republican Rachel Keshel
This story was originally produced by News from the USwhich is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes the Ohio Capital Journal and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
