LEGISLATION

The right to abortions has been widely debated among Americans and lawmakers alike in recent years -- a debate that has nearly reached a boiling point today, given that the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide this summer whether to overturn a landmark 1973 abortion ruling.

Legislation targeting transgender Americans and trans children has increased sharply in the last year. Guest host Ari Shapiro speaks with the Florida mother of a trans daughter about how their family is coping with that state's new, more restrictive policies. Then, Ari discusses how this wave of law-making differs from so-called "moral panics" of past decades — and why that matters — with historian Jules Gill-Peterson, of Johns Hopkins University.Then, Broadway is back and bigger than ever, with 16 new shows opening this month. But this Broadway burst hasn't been immune to the pandemic. "Macbeth" director Sam Gold talks to Ari about having to go onstage himself this month, when too many of his cast tested positive for Covid; and about what feels different as actors and audiences try to get back to normal. You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at ibam@npr.org.

A Democratic Michigan state senator whose passionate Senate Floor speech went viral last week is saying that her Republican colleagues are creating problems that don’t exist in an effort to rile up their supporters and avoid addressing “real issues.”

Attempts to tweak auto insurance legislation have stalled out in Lansing -- but does no-fault insurance reform need more reform?

Ministers express frustration about the sanctioning process as the Ukraine invasion escalates.

A law requiring most adults in Austria to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is ready to take effect, but the sense of urgency that accompanied its announcement in November has largely evaporated

LANSING, MI — Democratic legislators are calling for the advancement of legislation that would allow local boards to reinstate remote participation in public meetings across Michigan. Government bodies were forced to go back to in-person meetings on Jan. 1, as emergency orders put into place by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to allow virtual meetings expired at the end of 2021. Meetings are returning as Michigan is averaging nearly 17,600 new cases per day, more than double the height of the previous surges. Prior to the start of this year, changes to the Open Meetings Act allowed for remote meetings to continue where there was a local state of emergency declared, something some counties used.

Newly proposed legislation would make gun owners liable if children access and use their weapons to commit a crime or hurt themselves or others.

The proposed bill, which calls for unvaccinated hospital patients to pay for health-care expenses out-of-pocket, comes as Illinois is grappling with increases in covid-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations in the last week.

Russia’s coronavirus death toll continues to hover near all-time highs, but the number of new infections has continued to decline

The bill would allow county party leaders, candidates, judges and political committees to formally ask the Texas secretary of state's office to review any "irregularities" in an election.

Senator Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) is pushing to reinstate “good time” credits for inmates in the Michigan prison system.

House Republicans say this is just the beginning. They’re currently drafting the wording of legislation they hope to introduce soon aimed at reforming the Unemployment Insurance Agency.

The legislation introduced Wednesday would prohibit abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.

More than 42 million Americans collectively owe $1.56 trillion in student loan debt -- here's how some are planning to address that problem.

More than 42 million Americans collectively owe $1.56 trillion in student loan debt -- here's how some are planning to address that problem.

Ignore the industry doomsayers. New reporting requirements for digital assets are a good first step toward getting people to pay what they owe.

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MI -- U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, has introduced legislation to prevent what happened in his congressional district from repeating itself elsewhere. Moolenaar introduced House Bill 4968 on Friday, Aug. 8, legislation that would prohibit elected public officials with the authority to designate who is eligible to receive federal COVID-19 hazard pay from getting it themselves. Before Root’s resignation, members of the county Board of Commissioners and other elected officials in Shiawassee County agreed to return the hazard pay they received. “When Democrats in Congress passed their partisan $2-trillion spending plan they never put in rules that would stop local officials from giving that money to themselves. Read more on MLive:Shiawassee County confirms 6 employees got $25K each in COVID-19 relief fundsShiawassee County commissioner resigns as chair after COVID-19 payouts to top officialsNew Shiawassee board chair promotes ‘calm and professional’ approach following COVID-19 payout scandal

According to the Governor’s Office, the product will be regulated by the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) beginning Oct. 11.

Senate Bill 591 and House Bill 5250 call to ban the chemicals from the manufacturing and sale of food packaging.

Thanks to the budget process they must use to pass a sweeping list of priorities, Democratic leaders must sketch out their vast agenda in a matter of weeks.

UK travellers will have to quarantine for 14 days while Germany wants EU to step up restrictions.

When a person takes on the role of a police officer, they swear to protect and serve their community with respect and integrity. But what happens when they don’t?

Lawmakers in Hungary passed legislation Tuesday that prohibits sharing with minors any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment, something supporters said would help fight pedophilia but which human rights groups denounced as anti-LGBT discrimination. The conservative ruling party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban introduced the legislation, which is the latest effort to curtail the rights of gay men, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people in the central European nation. Hungary's National Assembly passed the bill on a 157-1 vote.

Lilliana Kerr was killed on Jan. 20, 2017, after a lunch table fell on top of her while she was attending the Head Start program at St. Albert’s Church in Dearborn Heights. She was 3 years old.

Beginning next school year, Tennessee teachers will have to restrict their instruction on race and racism under newly passed legislation that’s likely to become law.

It’s been more than two years since a drunk driver took the lives of a Metro Detroit family.

On Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined with fellow governors to call on Congressional leadership to pass the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which would remove legal limitations and allow financial institutions to bank with state-licensed cannabis businesses.

Five years ago, Mitchel Keifer died after he was struck by a distracted driver. His family decided they couldn’t let the tragic event destroy their lives.

The Biden administration has announced how funding from the American Jobs Plan will go toward infrastructure improvements in each state across the country -- including in Michigan, where infrastructure has been graded at a “D+.”

Multiple COVID data points are severe enough that under a bill passed in the Michigan’s Republican-controlled Senate, the data would trigger a shutdown of indoor dining.

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, members of Congress reintroduced legislation to reduce drunk driving deaths across the country. The legislation, Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate (HALT) Drunk Driving Act, will require the commercialization and standards for advanced drunk driving prevention technology systems in all new cars. Two years ago, Dingell honored their lives on the house floor and pledged action to reduce drunk driving crashes. The HALT Drunk Driving Act will make our roads safer, and will help us bring an end to the trauma of drunk driving deaths and injuries in this country.”MADD National President Alex Otte has spoken out in support if the bill. Read more on the HALT Drunk Driving Act

Adam Reames, Michigan Department of State's Legislative policy director, testified in opposition to the legislation during two committee hearings in February. He said about 540 names are in the voter rolls with placeholder birthdays. If those who haven't participated in the past 20 years of elections don't properly return the mailing, their voter registration would be marked as challenged. If they don't participate in elections by the second November general election after receiving notice, their registration would be canceled. About 300,000 people are on voter rolls who haven't voted since before 2000, Reames said.

AdRelated: No need to lose sleep over shift to daylight saving timeIn recent years, some states have moved to end the usage of daylight saving time -- and now Michigan can be added to that list. However, states do not have the authority to adopt a permanent daylight saving time, like Sen. Irwin is pushing for. 5 questions as the nation prepares to spring forwardThe U.S. isn’t the only country that uses daylight saving time. Countries in North America and Europe are the primary practicers of daylight saving time, but parts of Australia and South America have also adopted the concept. You can see a map of countries that use daylight saving time here.

It’s coming in the form of a bill that was just passed by the U.S. House -- and it’s named after George Floyd. After months of protests over the last summer, Americans across the country said that the killing of George Floyd -- a Black Minnesota man -- was a wake up call for the nation. Lawrence says that members of Congress couldn’t ignore what happened to George Floyd and the cultural aftermath. “The George Floyd (Justice in Policing Act) is not a ‘Black bill,’ it’s not just for African Americans,” Lawrence said. We wanted body worn cameras,” Craig said.

That legislation, which has to be approved by the House before it can be sent to Pritzker, also would allow restaurants, bars and retailers “flexibility to indirectly accept items such as tents, warmers and other equipment needed to attract customers to outdoor dining,” said the sponsor, Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, a Chicago Democrat.

LANSING, Mich. – Legislation that allows for alternatives to jail and aims to limit recidivism in Michigan were among the dozens of new laws Gov. Among the measures were 20 based on the recommendations of the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration formed in 2019. The task force heard testimony from hundreds of people and reviewed 10 years of statewide arrest and court data after the state’s incarcerated population nearly tripled over four decades. “Despite the challenges 2020 presented, I am proud of the incredible work we have done as a state to reform our criminal justice system,” said Whitmer. “After establishing the bipartisan Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration we were able to make real and meaningful change that will impact the lives of thousands of Michiganders.

DETROIT – The State of Michigan has been working on its own COVID relief bill. It passed through the Republican led House and Senate and is now on Michigan Gov. Read more: Michigan Senate passes $465 million COVID-19 relief billOn Monday, her office stated that Republicans did not negotiate this bill and are reviewing it. After weeks of negotiations the state’s $465 million relief package passed in the state legislature last week. Additionally, there is $63 million set aside for small business relief and $3.5 million for concert venues.

Grubhub spokesman Grant Klinzman said in a statement that the caps “are well-intentioned but counterproductive at a time when restaurants need more support, visibility and order volume than ever. They limit how restaurants — especially small and independent establishments — can effectively market themselves to drive demand, which severely impacts how many customers and orders we can bring to these restaurants.”

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state lawmakers are set to announce “bipartisan legislation” ahead of Veterans Day. READ: Whitmer, Michigan lawmakers pass legislation to reduce professional licensure barriers for veteransA press conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. You can watch live in the stream posted above. Whitmer will be joined by Sen. Adam Hollier, Sen. John Bizon, Rep. Sarah Anthony, Rep. Andrea Schroeder, LARA Director Orlene Hawks, MVAA Director Zaneta Adams, Adjutant General DMVA Director Major General Paul D. Rogers and Lt. Col. Karen Sims.

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019 file photo, former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair, left and John Major attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall in London. One major element of the Brexit withdrawal agreement is the section related to ensuring an open border on the island of Ireland to protect the peace process in Northern Ireland. The issue proved thorny during the more than two years of discussions it took to get a Brexit deal done, as the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland is the only land link between the U.K. and the EU. As a result, the two sides agreed there would be some kind of regulatory border between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland. Major and Blair, who both vociferously opposed Brexit, said the planned legislation puts the 1998 Good Friday agreement that ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland at risk.

LANSING, Mich. More than 2,000 of the coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths in Michigan have occurred in nursing homes. That puts Michigan in, or near, the top 10 in the nation in nursing home fatalities. Gretchen Whitmer about it on Tuesday, she pushed back on the suggestion that Michigan handled the virus badly when it comes to nursing homes. READ: Michigan governor vetoes nursing home bill calling it a political gameI think I would challenge you on the statement you just made, Whitmer said. Hes the one who brought forth the bill Whitmer vetoed.

Gretchen Whitmer signed several bipartisan budget bills into law Friday, while she vetoed nursing home legislation. Whitmer vetoed Senate Bill 956, which she believes would have jeopardized the health of Michigans nursing home residents and other COVID-19-positive patients. Vetoed LegislationProtecting the health and safety of nursing home residents and their staff continues to be a top priority for my administration, said Whitmer. Senate Bill 956 is nothing more than a political game that would relocate vulnerable seniors without any requirement for consent, doctors approval, or notification to patients and their families. Last week, Whitmer extended protections by continuing limited and temporary restrictions on the entry of individuals into health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities.

Gretchen Whitmers COVID-19 nursing home policies spoke out Saturday. Whitmer said she vetoed Senate Bill 956 Friday because she believes it would have jeopardized the health of Michigans nursing home residents and other COVID-19-positive patients. COVID-19 patients have been placed in nursing homes with healthy residents since the beginning of the pandemic -- a policy the legislature disagreed. A new policy, sponsored by Sen. Peter J. Lucido, aimed to prohibit the transfer of people who have COVID-19 into nursing homes and long-term care facilities unless a facility was capable of keeping the patients separate. Health officials claim more about one-third of Michigans COVID-19 deaths came in nursing homes.

Workers in California and New York are in line for a raise, with legislation boosting those states' minimum wage to a nationwide high of $15 an hour. Don Dahler reports.

New legislation is a bipartisan rewrite of Bush-era "No Child Left Behind" initiative, which shifts more power back to states in ensuring accountability for public schools.