News & Updates
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Reproductive Equity Now Slams New Hampshire Senate Rejection of Shield Law
Despite strong support from constituents and providers in New Hampshire, today, the New Hampshire Senate voted on party lines to defeat the Shield Law for Reproductive Health Care Access (SB 551), legislation that would protect patients and providers in New Hampshire from out-of-state political interference, intimidation, and legal threats related to reproductive health care.
Reproductive Equity Now Testifies in Support of Bolstering Connecticut Shield Law
Yesterday, Reproductive Equity Now’s Connecticut State Director, Liz Gustafson, testified in front of the Connecticut Joint Judiciary Committee in support of Bolstering Shield Protections for Telehealth (S.B. 295), legislation to expand Connecticut’s shield law to protect abortion and gender-affirming care providers from hostile out-of-state prosecution when delivering care via telehealth, regardless of the patient’s location.
Reproductive Equity Now Testifies Against Restricting Minors’ Access to Abortion Care
Yesterday, Reproductive Equity Now’s Interim Co-Executive Director, Claire Teylouni, testified in front of the Connecticut Joint Judiciary Committee in opposition to Restricting Minors’ Access to Abortion Care (H.B. 5309), legislation that would limit young people’s autonomy and ability to access pregnancy-related care by requiring parental notification for abortion care.
Ahead of Judiciary Hearing, Reproductive Equity Now Calls on CT Lawmakers to Bolster Shield Law Protections
Connecticut State Director for Reproductive Equity Now, Liz Gustafson, released a statement ahead of today’s Judiciary Committee Public Hearing on S.B. 295, Bolstering Shield Protections for Interstate Telehealth, legislation that would bolster Connecticut’s provider shield law to ensure reproductive and gender-affirming health care providers are protected from hostile out-of-state prosecution when providing care via telehealth, regardless of a patient’s location.
Reproductive Equity Now Urges Lawmakers to Strengthen Protections for Abortion Providers
Yesterday, Reproductive Equity Now’s Connecticut State Director, Liz Gustafson, testified in front of the General Law Committee of the Connecticut Legislature in support of S.B. 227. This legislation will further protect the privacy, confidentiality, and safety of abortion and gender-affirming care providers by allowing medications prescribed for reproductive and gender-affirming health care services to be labeled with the name of the prescribing or dispensing practice, in place of the individual health care provider. Gustafson illuminated for the Committee why this measure, which mirrors laws in other key states with comprehensive “shield” protections for abortion and gender-affirming care providers, is urgently needed in the Nutmeg State.
Reproductive Equity Now Launches 2026 Connecticut Legislative Agenda
Reproductive Equity Now announced its agenda for the 2026 Connecticut legislative session. The organization’s priorities for the 2026 session include efforts to bolster shield protections for abortion providers, working to protect and expand access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, and supporting allies through coalition-driven advocacy.
CT News Junkie | Free Abortion Legal Hotline Available For CT Patients, Caregivers
Reproductive Equity Now, Connecticut’s attorney general, legal partners and supporting organizations came together Monday to highlight a fairly new resource available to local residents: An abortion legal hotline.
WSHU| CT launches legal abortion hotline billboards
“Over the next several weeks, you’ll see billboards across Hartford and New Haven spreading the word about this free and confidential resource,” Liz Gustafson said, the state director of the Reproductive Equity Now Foundation that’s partnered with the states on the hotline.
CT Insider | Connecticut's free abortion legal hotline offers clarity amid national uncertainty
While abortion access remains safe and legal in Connecticut, online misinformation and a shifting national landscape have created a chaotic and confusing health care environment for both patients and providers, said Liz Gustafson, Connecticut director of Reproductive Equity Now, a New England-based abortion access nonprofit.
Reproductive Equity Now Foundation Launches Statewide Awareness Campaign for Connecticut Abortion Legal Hotline
As the Trump Administration and anti-abortion actors across the nation ramp up attacks on abortion access, the Reproductive Equity Now Foundation announced today in a press conference, alongside Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and several hotline partners, the launch of an awareness campaign for the Abortion Legal Hotline in Connecticut.
Reproductive Equity Now Applauds Connecticut Legislature on Passing of Urgent Immigrant Protections and Clearing Way for Increased Provider Funding
Reproductive Equity Now (REN) released the following statement after last week’s Connecticut Legislature’s special session, where lawmakers advanced key measures to protect reproductive health care access, safeguard immigrant communities, and stabilize the state’s hospital system.
ACLU of Connecticut and and Allies Demand Statewide Pause on Automatic License Plate Readers Amid Concerns of Data Sharing with Other States and ICE
“As the first state in the country to pass a shield law, Connecticut knows firsthand the importance of protecting providers and patients seeking abortion and gender-affirming care with every tool available,” said Liz Gustafson, Connecticut State Director for Reproductive Equity Now. “The possibility that those protections could be circumvented by law enforcement agencies using Flock systems is extremely concerning. Tech companies are already functioning as surveillance infrastructure for the extremist anti-abortion movement, amassing data that has been used for pregnancy- and abortion-related investigations across the country. Any failure to safeguard personal data collected by third-party ALPRs directly conflicts with Connecticut’s clear commitment to protecting care.”
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 Statement Following Connecticut Senate Passage of Legislation Protecting Youth Access to Care
H.B. 7213 would codify minors’ ability to confidentially consent to contraceptive & pregnancy-related care
Connecticut Sun to Receive 2025 Ellen Paradise Fisher Activism in Action Award at Reproductive Equity Now’s Breaking Barriers Gala
The Connecticut Sun is proud to announce that the organization has been named the recipient of the 2025 Ellen Paradise Fisher Activism in Action Award, presented by Reproductive Equity Now. The award will be formally presented at the Breaking Barriers Gala on May 15, 2025, at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.
Advocates, Health Care Providers Gather at Connecticut Capitol to Urge Lawmakers to Advance Reproductive Health Legislation
Today, at the Connecticut General Assembly, reproductive rights advocates, medical professionals, and community leaders gathered to urge Connecticut state lawmakers to take action on critical reproductive health legislation this session
Reproductive Equity Now Statement Following CT House Passage of Legislation Protecting Youth Access to Care
Reproductive Equity Now’s Connecticut State Director Liz Gustafson released the following statement after H.B. 7213 An Act Concerning Access To Reproductive Health Care, legislation that would establish clear statutory protections for minors’ ability to confidentially consent to contraceptive and pregnancy-related care, passed through the Connecticut House of Representatives 117-27.
Repro Equity Now Statement After Trump Administration Cuts Millions in Title X Funding for Planned Parenthood Clinics
Today, Rebecca Hart Holder, President of Reproductive Equity Now, released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) formally announced that it will be freezing Title X funding for thirteen Planned Parenthood affiliates, citing their refusal to end Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices. Title X funding provides access to critical preventative care like low-cost/free birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment. According to Physicians for Reproductive Health, in 2022, through Title X funds, providers at sexual and reproductive health care clinics across the country were able to serve 2.6 million family planning patients. Title X funds cannot be used for abortion care.
CT Mirror | Abortion providers need appreciation, protection, support
An op-ed co-authored by Connecticut State Director Liz Gustafson.
“On March 10 we recognized Abortion Provider Appreciation Day, a day to celebrate the bravery, compassion, and resilience of those who provide abortion care. While recognition is important, it is not enough. If we truly value these essential health care providers, we must fight to protect them.”
Reproductive Equity Now Statement Ahead of Public Hearing on Bolstering Connecticut’s “Shield Law”
HARTFORD (March 24, 2025) – Reproductive Equity Now’s Connecticut State Director Liz Gustafson released the following statement ahead of today’s public hearing in the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly on H.B. 7135, legislation that would strengthen Connecticut’s first-in-the-nation “shield law” to further protect abortion and gender-affirming care providers, including those who utilize telemedicine.