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Taxpayers could have to pay $1.8 million to attorneys for Planned Parenthood and another abortion provider after courts determined a 2013 law is unconstitutional. The demand for fees sets up the possibility of Republican officials having to shift taxpayer dollars to one of their biggest political opponents. GOP Attorney General Brad Schimel will likely fight having to pay at least some of the fees, his spokesman said Wednesday. (Marley and Stein, 8/3)

Health care providers, funeral operators and women's rights activists on Thursday are expected to tell Texas health officials that a rule requiring the cremation or burial of fetal remains will do little to improve public health and could be burdensome to women who miscarry and those seeking abortions. Following outcry over the new requirements, which state health officials quietly proposed in July, the Texas Department of State Health Services will hold a public hearing on a rule change that would no longer allow abortion providers to dispose of fetal remains in sanitary landfills, instead allowing only cremation or interment of all remains — regardless of the period of gestation. The burial or cremation rule seems to also apply to miscarriages. (Ura, 8/4)