News & Updates
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Reproductive Equity Now President Rebecca Hart Holder to Take Sabbatical September 1
Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now (REN), made a public announcement that she will be taking a sabbatical, starting September 1 until the end of 2025. REN Deputy Director, Taylor St. Germain, and Senior Director of Policy and Programs, Claire Teylouni, will step in as interim co-executive directors in Hart Holder’s absence.
Reproductive Equity Now Publishes Comprehensive White Paper on Abortion Throughout Pregnancy
Reproductive Equity Now has authored a new resource for reporters and advocates who are interested in reporting or researching abortion care that occurs later in pregnancy and ongoing efforts to expand access to abortion care throughout pregnancy.
Governor Healey Signs Updated Shield Law Strengthening Protections for Health Care Providers and Patients
Today, Governor Maura Healey signed the updated Shield Law to strengthen protections for patients and providers. The new law prevents the disclosure of sensitive data, such as a physician’s name, and formally establishes that abortions are to be provided in emergencies due to medical necessity. Additionally, the law prohibits Massachusetts state or local authorities from cooperating with any federal or out-of-state investigation into health care services that are legally protected in Massachusetts, such as abortion care.
NH bans more health care for transgender youth
Ignoring the warnings of medical organizations, civil rights activists, transgender youth, and their families, Governor Ayotte signed two bills into law today that will ban many health care treatments for gender dysphoria for transgender youth, prohibiting doctors from providing such care and stripping parents of the right to guide medical decisions for their own children.
Executive Council Approves Two Federally Funded Contracts for Maternal Health Care
This morning, after the tireless efforts of moms and advocates across New Hampshire, the Executive Council approved agenda items #33 and #33A, two federally funded contracts submitted by the New Hampshire Department of Insurance to expand access to and improve regulatory oversight of women’s and maternal health care. In May, the Council rejected agenda item #33A, a contract to study access to women’s health services, with a particular focus on postpartum care. The three men on the Council - Councilor Joseph Kenney, Councilor John Stephen, and Councilor David Wheeler - all fathers, rejected this contract, while the two women on the council - Councilor Karen Liot Hill and Councilor Janet Stevens - both mothers, voted for it.
Reproductive Equity Now Celebrates $2 Million Delivered to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care in Massachusetts
Reproductive Equity Now President, Rebecca Hart Holder, released the following statement after Governor Maura Healey, House Speaker Ron Mariano, and Senate President Karen Spilka announced that they are delivering $2 million in state funding to Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts amidst the Trump Administration’s attacks on reproductive health care clinics nationwide.
Reproductive Equity Now Urges Abortion Throughout Pregnancy - No Exceptions
This morning, the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health will conduct a public hearing to hear testimony on H.2370/S.1563, the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act, sponsored by Representatives Christine P. Barber and Lindsay Sabadosa and Senator Robyn K. Kennedy, a bill that would remove arbitrary restrictions on access to abortion throughout pregnancy.
Reproductive Equity Now President: “Big, Beautiful Bill”? More Like “Big Abortion Ban.”
Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now, released the following statement after Donald Trump signed the federal spending bill – commonly referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill.” This bill defunds Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide, incentivizes Affordable Care Act plans to stop covering abortion care, and slashes Medicaid funding, which will result in more sexual and reproductive health clinic closures. It is also expected that 17 million people across the United States will lose access to health care coverage.
Reproductive Equity Now’s Statement on New Hampshire Budget Signed Into Law
“We will continue to fight for equitable health care access for every Granite Stater—and we will hold accountable those who voted to strip that care away.”
Reproductive Equity Now Applauds Massachusetts Senate Vote to Strengthen Shield Law
Reproductive Equity Now’s President Rebecca Hart Holder released a statement after the Massachusetts State Senate voted 37-3 today to engross S.2538, An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth. This critical legislation would expand the state’s telehealth shield law by prohibiting all state actors from cooperating with any out-of-state hostile litigation, establishing state-level EMTALA protections for emergency abortion care, allowing providers critical anonymity by using their practice name on prescription labels for reproductive and gender affirming health care medicines, and ensuring all clinicians and lawyers are protected from professional discipline related to hostile litigation, and more.
Reproductive Equity Now Stands in Solidarity with Planned Parenthood Following Medina Decision
Reproductive Equity Now President, Rebecca Hart Holder, released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in the case of Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, holding that patients and providers do not have the right to challenge South Carolina’s decision to bar Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid program, permitting states to refuse to cover care provided at Planned Parenthood clinics under state Medicaid programs.
Reproductive Equity Now Statement on Third Anniversary of Dobbs Decision
Reproductive Equity Now President Rebecca Hart Holder released the following statement in acknowledgment of the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, effectively allowing states to ban abortion care.
Reproductive Equity Now Blasts Supreme Court’s Attack on Gender-Affirming Care
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court released their decision in United States v. Skrmetti, a case determining whether or not Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. The Supreme Court upheld SB1, a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. Similar care is not banned for cisgender youth. The ruling will not impact gender-affirming care for transgender youth in states where it is not currently banned.
Reproductive Equity Now Celebrates Protection of Youth Access to Confidential Care Signed Into Law
Reproductive Equity Now’s Connecticut State Director Liz Gustafson released the following statement after Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed Public Act 25-19 into law, legislation that establishes clear statutory protections for minors’ ability to confidentially consent to contraceptive and pregnancy-related care, into state law yesterday.
Reproductive Equity Now Calls for Elimination of Out-of-Pocket Costs for Full Spectrum of Pregnancy Care
This morning, the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Financial Services will hear testimony from the public on An Act Ensuring Access to Full Spectrum Pregnancy Care (S.761/H.1311), legislation that will eliminate cost sharing for the full spectrum of pregnancy care and ensure patients are not saddled with exorbitant costs or catastrophic deductibles after giving birth. Reproductive Equity Now will testify at this hearing and has released the following statement in advance.
Reproductive Equity Now Proudly Welcomes Former House Speaker Terie Norelli and Former State Senator Becky Whitley to Board
Reproductive Equity Now announces the appointment of two powerhouse leaders to its Board of Directors this week: Terie Norelli, former Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and Becky Whitley, former New Hampshire State Senator and US Congressional Candidate. With an anti-abortion trifecta in New Hampshire’s state government, Norelli and Whitley bring deep political acumen and an unwavering commitment to reproductive freedom—assets that will be instrumental in advancing the organization’s bold legislative and organizing agenda across the Granite State.
Reproductive Equity Now Slams New Hampshire House Budget’s Elimination of Family Planning Program
Today, New Hampshire’s House of Representatives rejected an amendment brought forth by Minority Leader Alexis Simpson that would have reinstated funding in the upcoming biennial state budget for the New Hampshire Family Planning Program, a program with a 53-year history of providing low-cost, preventative sexual and reproductive health care to thousands of Granite Staters.
Reproductive Equity Now joins Advocates, experts call on lawmakers to ban sale of location data
At the Massachusetts State House, domestic violence advocates, reproductive advocacy groups, privacy and technology experts, LGBTQ+ organizations, labor unions, abortion care providers, and others are today calling on state lawmakers to ban the sale and trade of precise geolocation data.