SEATTLE — A new Washington state parental rights law derided by critics as a “forced outing” measure will be allowed to take effect this week after a court commissioner on Tuesday declined to issue an emergency order temporarily blocking it. The civil liberties groups, school district, youth services organizations and others who are challenging the … Read more
BATON ROUGE, La. — A person found guilty of a sex crime against a child in Louisiana could soon be ordered to undergo surgical castration, in addition to prison time. Louisiana lawmakers gave final approval to the bill Monday that would allow judges the option to sentence someone to surgical castration after the person has … Read more
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s governor has approved legislation designed to block adults from helping minors get an abortion or receive gender-affirming care without parental consent, proposals that are both likely to face immediate legal challenges when they go into effect later this year. Republican Gov. Bill Lee quietly signed the bills Tuesday without comment. However, … Read more
A Minnesota city has agreed not to disclose private medical information about renters with mental health issues and to pay $175,000 to resolve a complaint from the federal government that the city discriminated against mentally ill residents in enforcing an anti-crime law. The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday announced its agreement with the city … Read more
President Joe Biden, intent on selling his legislative accomplishments this election year, will travel to New Hampshire to detail the impact of a law that helps veterans get key benefits as a result of burn pit or other toxic exposure during their service WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden, intent on selling his legislative accomplishments this … Read more
JOHANNESBURG — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday signed into law a bill that aims to overhaul the healthcare system to address deep inequality, but it faces legal challenges from critics. The law introduces what is known as National Health Insurance, which will provide funds for all South Africans to access private healthcare. Currently, … Read more
An Ohio law prohibiting cities from banning the sale of flavored tobacco products is unconstitutional, a judge has ruled. The state is expected to appeal the ruling issued Friday by Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Serrott, who had issued a temporary restraining order in April that stopped the law from taking effect. The … Read more
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A state judge has ruled that South Carolina can continue to enforce a ban on nearly all abortions around six weeks after conception as an appeal continues on what exactly defines a heartbeat under the law. Planned Parenthood had asked the law be set aside as courts parse through its wording, which … Read more
When it was Shawnna Bolick’s turn to speak, the words tumbled out of her for 20 minutes. The conservative lawmaker was in the middle of a heated debate in the Republican-led Arizona Senate on a bill to repeal an 1864 law banning nearly all abortions. Democrats needed at least one more vote from the right … Read more
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday that he has signed a new law regulating transgender people’s use of bathrooms, locker rooms and dormitories in public education buildings, making Mississippi at least the 12th state to restrict transgender students from using facilities that align with their gender identity. Reeves criticized a federal regulation … Read more
