IN THE NEWS

State legislatures kick off 2005 with renewed attention to sexual and reproductive health

February 7, 2005

In January alone, 260 bills related to sexual and reproductive health were introduced in 33 state legislatures. Among these are measures that would:

Require counseling and waiting periods for abortion--19 bills in 15 states
Mandate parental involvement in minors’ abortions--17 bills in 12 states
Establish “Choose Life” license plates--5 bills in 3 states
Promote access to emergency contraception--15 bills in 8 states
Restrict access to emergency contraception--2 bills in 2 states
Mandate insurance coverage of contraceptives--10 bills in 5 states
Allow pharmacists to refuse to provide contraceptives--5 bills in 5 states
Mandate insurance coverage of infertility treatment--11 bills in 5 states
Require that sex education be medically accurate--5 bills in 3 states
Allow stem cell research--14 bills in 6 states
Provide state funds for stem cell research--8 bills in 3 states

The Alan Guttmacher Institute’s (AGI’s) online State Center allows you to follow, month by month, the progress of these and other measures related to sexual and reproductive health over the year.

Click here for monthly updates on sexual and reproductive health and rights developments in the states.

Click here for a summary of major developments in 2004.

Click here to view the current status of state policies.

Click here to subscribe to State News Quarterly, an e-mail newsletter that brings you AGI’s most recent state-oriented research and analysis, summarized for quick reading with links to full-text and related materials.