Disability-rights advocates are challenging a new state law allowing pregnant women to use parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities, alleging the measure violates federal protections.

The “expectant mother parking permit” allows pregnant women to obtain disabled parking placards at any point in their pregnancies. The permit, which women can get with notes from their doctors confirming they are pregnant, costs $15 and lasts for a year.

A federal lawsuit filed last week alleges the parking permits for pregnant women violate the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and other protections designed to ensure people with disabilities have access to places where they can work, attend school, shop for food and get medical care, among other things.

Federal and state laws set minimu

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