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Data privacy after Dobbs: Is period tracking safe?
After the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022 and abortion was banned in the state of Tennessee, Dr. Danielle Kelvas quit using an app that tracked her menstrual cycle. “It frightened me. … I actually got frightened because it tracked me for, like, a week,” Kelvas...
Law school grads could earn license through work rather than bar exam in some states
PORTLAND, Ore. — Before Bailey McQueeny-Rose attended law school at the University of Oregon, she worked in reproductive health care, first as a medical assistant and then as a trainer, teaching others to do the same job. The work opened her eyes to how access to health care differed based on the laws in the six states where she oversaw training, and she began to consider becoming a civil rights lawyer.
In long-sought change, states must consider tribal rights when crafting water rules
In the 1800s, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa joined other tribes in signing a pair of treaties with the federal government, giving up massive swaths of land in return for the creation of a reservation in eastern Minnesota. The treaties included a guarantee: Tribal members would be able to return in […] The post In long-sought change, states must consider tribal rights when crafting water rules appeared first on Stateline.
Efforts to release prisoners from long sentences draw new interest
Lawmakers across the country have considered legislation this year that would allow courts or parole boards to reevaluate a person’s long prison sentence and decide whether they can be safely released into society. The bills, known as “second look” legislation, often focus on older populations, people sentenced as minors, or those whose crimes might have […] The post Efforts to release prisoners from long sentences draw new interest appeared first on Stateline.
Steep fines in Iowa set off state-federal showdown over child labor laws
Michelle Cox was in disbelief when a U.S. Department of Labor official told her earlier this year she was violating federal law by employing 14- and 15-year-olds past 7 p.m. on school nights. Cox, the owner of a Subway franchise in Maquoketa, Iowa, knew the state legislature had made substantial changes to state labor laws […] The post Steep fines in Iowa set off state-federal showdown over child labor laws appeared first on Stateline.
States strike out on their own on AI, privacy regulation
As congressional sessions have passed without any new federal artificial intelligence laws, state legislators are striking out on their own to regulate the technologies in the meantime. Colorado just signed into effect one of the most sweeping regulatory laws in the country, which sets guardrails for companies that develop and use AI. Its focus is […] The post States strike out on their own on AI, privacy regulation appeared first on Stateline.
State AGs ramp up scrutiny of alleged price-fixing in rental housing
In the past two years, more than 30 lawsuits have been filed in federal and state courts alleging that companies such as RealPage and Yardi are equipping corporate landlords with software algorithms that allow competitors to collude on rent prices. Algorithmic price estimates, in which landlords rely on complex data formulas to set rental rates, […] The post State AGs ramp up scrutiny of alleged price-fixing in rental housing appeared first on Stateline.
Utah’s Cox to fellow governors: Please don’t ‘tear down’ bipartisan leadership group
This story first appeared in the Utah News Dispatch. It’s been a year since Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox was elected as chairman of the National Governors Association and launched his “Disagree Better” campaign. At the time, Politico columnist Jonathan Martin pointed out that the NGA, which he described as a “once-vital forum for common […] The post Utah’s Cox to fellow governors: Please don’t ‘tear down’ bipartisan leadership group appeared first on Stateline.
Backed by a basketball champion, more kids who stutter may have therapy covered
Former NBA and University of Kentucky basketball player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has stuttered all his life. Once he got to college, his health insurance finally paid for speech therapy, coverage he did not have as a child. It helped, but more than a decade later he still has difficulty articulating his words. Now, thanks in large […] The post Backed by a basketball champion, more kids who stutter may have therapy covered appeared first on Stateline.
Angry patients spur new state watchdogs to bring down drug prices
Spurred by fed-up consumers, states are trying to curb spiraling prescription drug costs by assembling special public boards to investigate and regulate pricing. The idea is similar to a local utility board: a public group that sets rules or makes recommendations to ensure that what they’re regulating — in this case, prescription medications — is affordable.
Red-state cities and suburbs are becoming more diverse
Growth in Asian, Black and Hispanic communities is transforming cities and suburban counties, especially in red states such as Florida, Indiana and Texas, according to a new Stateline analysis. The presidential swing states of Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania also were among the fastest-changing states. Nationally, the share of the non-white population grew in 47 states […] The post Red-state cities and suburbs are becoming more diverse appeared first on Stateline.
As public health becomes political, state surgeons general play delicate role
When Louisiana Republican state Rep. Brach Myers stood on the House floor this past April to advocate for his bill to create a state surgeon general position, the questions were sparse, and the debate lasted only a few minutes. Democratic Rep. Matthew Willard asked whether the new role “could create chaos or maybe even division” […] The post As public health becomes political, state surgeons general play delicate role appeared first on Stateline.
More states enact salary transparency laws to fight gender, racial pay gaps
To combat gender and racial wage gaps, nearly a dozen states recently have enacted pay transparency laws that require employers to be more open about the wages and benefits they offer. Most of the laws require employers to disclose wages in job postings and some bar them from asking a job candidate about their salary […] The post More states enact salary transparency laws to fight gender, racial pay gaps appeared first on Stateline.
Gas taxes can’t pay for roads much longer, but Amazon deliveries might
For decades, states have relied on gas taxes to provide much of the money to maintain roads and bridges. But as cars become more fuel efficient, and some Americans switch to electric vehicles, state leaders say the gas tax won’t pay the bills for much longer. At the same time, many cities have seen their […] The post Gas taxes can’t pay for roads much longer, but Amazon deliveries might appeared first on Stateline.
‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators
Anna Wysock’s “aha” moment arrived in an Ohio amusement park, as she got ready to ride a roller coaster with her 7-year-old son: The safety bar across her lap would only click into place once. The attendant told her it had to click twice, or she couldn’t ride. She was mortified. “I had to do […] The post ‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators appeared first on Stateline.
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