A record number of women were elected to statehouses last year. But in the Southeast, where some legislatures are more than 80% male, representation is lagging as lawmakers pass bills that most impact women, like near-total abortion bans.
Now that South Carolina has loosened regulations on building new clinics, advocates say there will be more market-driven expansion for doctors and hospitals.
Multiple proposals have been made related to gender reassignment surgeries for minors. And one of the bills is sponsored by two of the most powerful Republicans in the S.C. House.