Reproductive Rights News Roundup – February 28th 2025

On Tuesday, March 4th, Florida’s 60-day Legislative Session will begin and as supporters of reproductive health and justice, we’ll have our work cut out for us.

Here’s what we’re monitoring so far:

SB 1284, Senator Grall: The “civil liability” bill we defeated last year is back but we’re not fooled. Any attempt to establish “fetal personhood” in Florida is dangerous and unpopular; there is no end to how personhood laws can impact people’s ability to make decisions for their lives, health, and well-being.
SB 1288, Senator Grall/HB 1505, Representative Plakon:Attempts to restrict the freedom of minors to access birth control, family planning, a judicial waiver for abortion, and risk assessment surveys without parental consent.
HB 1255, Representative Trabulsy: Tucked within a very lengthy education bill is a requirement for students to view a deceptive, medically inaccurate video on fetal development known as the “Baby Olivia” video, pushed across the nation by an anti-abortion extremist group.
HB 1205 Representative Persons-Mulicka: Along with a similar bill filed by Senator Ingoglia, this legislation attempts to limit our freedom to vote on laws that govern our lives by interfering with the citizen-led amendment process. Express your opposition here!
Multiple bills that infringe on the freedoms of LGBTQ+ students, teachers, employees, and family members.

On top of these bills, we’re already seeing attacks on immigrants, diversity, workers, environmental protections, public safety, democracy, and more.

These proposals are deeply out-of-touch with the needs of hardworking Floridians. Stick with us this legislative session to fight for our freedoms and help remind our representatives to put people first.

Speaking of freedoms, if you haven’t already sent a letter to your lawmakers asking them to end Florida’s near-total abortion ban, you can do so here!

Events & Volunteer Opportunities

Repro Kit Party w/Florida Access Network
Saturday, March 1st 11:00am-1:00pm
North Miami
Click here to register.

Florida Legislature 101w/Planned Parenthood
Tuesday, March 4th at 5:30pm EST
Click here to register for the Zoom.

Statewide Direct Aid Distribution w/Florida Access Network & Partners
Tuesday, March 4th 6:00pm-9:00pm EST
Ft. Lauderdale
Click here to register.

Ending Florida’s Extreme Abortion Ban Organizing Call w/Planned Parenthood
Wednesday, March 5th at 6:30pm EST
Click here to register for the Zoom.

Latina Institute & Reproductive Justice
Wednesday, March 5th 6:30pm-7:30pm
Click here to register for the Zoom.

International Women’s Day St. Pete
Saturday, March 8th 12:00pm-1:00pm
Corner of Central & 3rd Avenue North, Downtown St. Pete
A repro freedom visibility event with League of Women Voters St. Pete
Click here for the Facebook event.

Pride at the Capitol w/Equality Florida
March 18th-19th
Register here for this important opportunity.

Let Us Live March
Thursday, March 20th beginning around 8:00am
Click here to register.

Be a partner for upcoming Black Maternal Health Week.
April 11th-17th
Click here for the partner packeton how to support the Central Florida Birth Network.

News Roundup

Florida

Republican senator refiles bill permitting suits in wrongful death of fetuses
By Jackie Llanos, Florida Phoenix
Republican Sen. Erin Grall filed a bill Wednesday letting parents collect damages in the wrongful death of a fetus at any stage of development.

Anti-abortion ‘Baby Olivia’ video could be mandated viewing in Florida public schools
By Christine Sexton, Florida Phoenix
Florida could join a list of red states that are requiring public schools to teach “human embryologic development” as part of their health education curriculum, likely via a controversial video.

ACLU predicts Florida Republicans will pursue ‘inhumane’ Donald Trump policies at state level
By Jacob Ogles, Florida Politics
The ACLU of Florida sees attacks on immigrants and democracy on Florida’s horizon, but intends to defend residents from political threats.

Can Democrats bring back abortion in Florida?
By Cynthia Frage, The FAMUan
In a recent press release, Florida’s House and Senate Democrats have introduced legislation aiming to repeal the state’s six-week abortion ban, a law they argue is harming women and limiting doctors’ ability to provide necessary medical care.

National

In red states, GOP lawmakers revive an “incredibly regressive” push to treat abortion as murder
By Tatyana Tandanpolie, Salon
With abortion policy left to the states, far-right GOP lawmakers in nearly a dozen ultraconservative states — already with some of the nation’s strictest abortion bans — are trying to tighten the reigns even more for pregnant people by opening them up to murder charges.

Helpline callers confused if abortion is legal and want to know how to get pills, advocates say
By Sofia Resnick, States Newsroom
Within his first month in office, President Donald Trump’s administration has sought to limit information about pregnancy termination — scrubbing “abortion” search results from federal health websites, and withholding federal funding from reproductive-health organizations that give information on abortion.

Supreme Court declines chance to overturn precedent limiting protests outside abortion clinics
By John Fritze, CNN
The Supreme Court opted against hearing arguments in a pair of appeals Monday seeking to wipe out protest buffer zones around abortion clinics – a move that, for now, will leave those restrictions in place.

Federal law protects emergency abortions. Will Trump keep that policy?
By Shefali Luthra, The 19^th
Doctors are bracing for a possible rollback of a federal law protecting their ability to provide abortions in medical emergencies.

The Anti-Abortion Movement Is Splintering
By Kiera Butler, Mother Jones
Earlier this month, Kristan Hawkins, head of the influential anti-abortion group Students for Life of America, told her 85,000 followers on X that a particularly militant faction of anti-abortion activists worried her more than pro-choice protesters.

Abortion Pill Maker Enters Legal Fight Over F.D.A. Rules
By Lisa Lerer, New York Times
The country’s largest manufacturer of abortion pills is wading into the first major legal battle over abortion of President Trump’s second term.

Lawsuit filed by 17 states against abortion accommodations in the workplace can proceed
Staff Report, Associated Press
A lawsuit filed by 17 states challenging federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions may proceed, a federal appeals court ruled.

How Medicaid helps mothers, caregivers and children
By Barbara Rodriguez, The 19^th
Republicans who control Congress are reportedly weighing cuts to Medicaid, the popular federal-state insurance program that provides health and long-term care to millions of Americans.

Job Openings

The Florida Youth Leadership Forum is accepting for their July program.
Ages 15-21 with a disability & interest in growing leadership skills.
Apply by 3/21.

APIA Vote is accepting applications for their summer internship.
Apply by 4/1.

Tampa Bay Abortion Fund is hiring an Executive Director.
$90,000-$100,000/year.
Apply by 3/3.

Equal Ground is hiring a North Florida Field Manager.
$50,000/year.
Apply asap.

EducateUs is hiring a Communications Intern and Organizing Intern.
$17/hour.
Apply by 3/10.

Equality Florida is hiring multiple paid fellow positions for Spring.
Learn more here.

The ERA Coalition is hiring Public Policy & Social Media interns.
Class credit available.
Learn more here.