Texas Gov. Pushes Sonogram Law; Virginia Overturns HPV Vaccine Mandate

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) on Saturday announced plans to give emergency designation to a bill (SB 16) that would require a woman seeking an abortion to view a sonogram, listen to the fetal heartbeat and then sign a document stating that she received the sonogram and understands the consequences of abortion, the Austin American-Statesman reports…

Editorial Criticizes Idaho Bill To Increase 'Conscience' Protections For Health Care Workers

“Last week, 21 Idaho senators injected themselves into private, painful decisions about conception, abortion and euthanasia” by advancing a bill (SB 1353) that would shield health care professionals from liability if they “decline to provide services that violate their conscience,” an Idaho Statesman editorial states…

Virginia Senate Approves Bill To Create 'Trust Women. Respect Choice.' License Plates

The Virginia Senate on Tuesday voted 26-8 to approve a bill (SB 18) that would create a specialty license plate with the message, “Trust Women. Respect Choice,” and direct a portion of the revenue to the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, the Washington Post reports. The bill also would approve other specialty license plates (Helderman/Kunkle, Washington Post, 2/17)…