Several state legislatures advanced significant legislation this week addressing immigration, disability rights, and healthcare access.

A House panel voted 7-4 to advance immigration legislation with a $70 billion funding component, though details about the bill's specific provisions and scope were not immediately available.

Separately, the Massachusetts legislature passed a bill to update language in the state's General Laws by removing outdated disability terminology. The legislation would replace terms like "handicapped" and other offensive language with person-first disability language that advocates say better respects the dignity of people with disabilities.

In New Jersey, an Assembly committee advanced legislation that would criminalize interference with abortion services and transgender healthcare access throughout the state. The bill aims to establish legal protections for individuals seeking these medical services and the providers who offer them.

The legislative actions come as states continue to address various social and healthcare policy issues at the local level. The bills will need to advance through additional legislative processes before becoming law in their respective states.