2022 Legislative Priorities

We’re witnessing an all-out attack on reproductive freedom in America. Politicians across the country, and even Supreme Court justices, are determined to eliminate access to abortion and take away our health care and our rights. We won’t let it happen in Rhode Island – not on our watch.

Rhode Island’s 2022 legislative session begins on Tuesday, Jan. 4. Here are a few of our priorities for the coming year to keep our state moving forward.

Equitable Abortion Access

Abortion bans aren’t just a problem in states like Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Right now, state laws prevent nearly 1 in 3 Rhode Island residents – people enrolled in Medicaid and state employees and their dependents – from using their health insurance to cover abortion.

Like all abortion bans, these laws disproportionately harm Black and Latinx people, people with low incomes, people in rural areas, immigrants and anyone shut out of our health care system. Abortion bans are discriminatory and racist, reinforcing inequity and injustice in our state.

This year, we must pass the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act to help ensure equitable access to abortion for all Rhode Islanders. The bill will:

• End Rhode Island’s abortion bans
• Remove state laws prohibiting more than 300,000 residents from using their health insurance to cover abortion
• Expand abortion access by adding abortion coverage to our Medicaid program

Advancing Reproductive Health + Rights

Alongside our coalition and community partners, we will continue the fight this year to:

• Protect access to birth control and codify the essential health benefits of the Affordable Care Act in state law
• Increase postpartum coverage for patients enrolled in Medicaid from 60 days to one year
• Improve Rhode Island’s sex education requirements to include LGBTQ+ identities, consent, and safe relationships instruction in Rhode Island schools
• Provide health care coverage for all kids, regardless of immigration status
• Safeguard reproductive rights and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care for all

 

We can’t win without you. Do you get our action alerts? Sign up now to take action and join the fight for policies that will protect and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care this session.