State law permits abortions during the first and second trimester, or during the third trimester if three physicians agree the pregnancy will lead to the woman’s death or substantially harm her health. But Republicans have pushed to limit abortions since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.
A state Senate committee Tuesday unanimously voted to continue three proposed constitutional amendments on abortion, voting rights restoration and same-sex marriage to 2025.
The amendment — carried by five Democrats, including Sens. Mamie Locke, Jennifer Boysko, Louise Lucas, Ghazala Hashmi and Barbara Favola — would protect reproductive rights.
“This right to make and effectuate one’s own decisions about all matters related to one’s pregnancy shall not be denied, burdened, or infringed upon, unless justified by a compelling state interest,” the proposed amendment states. “…The Commonwealth shall not penalize, prosecute, or otherwise take adverse action against an individual on the basis of an actual, potential, perceived, or alleged outcome of such individual’s pregnancy.”
A constitutional amendment must pass the statehouse during two legislative sessions with an election in between. It then needs approval from Virginia voters — not the governor — to take effect. Given the state’s election schedule, any new amendments wouldn’t go before voters until 2026.
ACTION ALERT
Ask Governor Youngkin to Support Women's
Right to Control Their Bodies.
IN BRIEF
Several reproductive rights bills the League of Women Voters has been supporting have been sent to the Governor for his signature. He has until April 8 to sign or veto them. If he does nothing they will become law.
Contact him to urge him to not veto and to support women’s right to control their bodies.
Email him here: va-constituentservices.azurewebsites.net/email Regrettably, there is no drop-down box on the form for women so you might use Health and Human Services–Social Services.
Call 804-786-2211 and press one)
SB 15 Reproductive health care services; prohibition on extradition for certain criminal violations.
SB 16 Search warrants, subpoenas, court orders, or other process; menstrual health data prohibited.
SB 237 Contraception; establishes right to obtain, applicability, enforcement.
SB 716 Unprofessional conduct; disciplinary action against doctor for providing abortion care, etc.
HB 78 Search warrants, subpoenas, court orders, or other process; menstrual health data prohibited. (HB78 incorporated HB1359.)
HB 519 Unprofessional conduct; disciplinary action against doctor for providing abortion care, etc.
HB 609 Contraception; establishes right to obtain, applicability, enforcement.
HB 819 Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices.
Already acted on and amended by the Governor:
SB 238 Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices.
Continued to 2025:
SB 278 Virginia Abortion Care & Gender-ACirming Health Care Protection Act; established, civil penalties.
SJ1 and HJ1 Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom (first reference).
SJ 1 Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom (first reference).
Introduced by: Jennifer B. Boysko | Ghazala F. Hashmi | L. Louise Lucas | Mamie E. Locke | Barbara
Constitutional amendment (first reference); fundamental right to reproductive
freedom. Provides that every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom and that the right to make and effectuate one's own decisions about all matters related to one's pregnancy cannot be denied, burdened, or otherwise infringed upon by the Commonwealth, unless justified by a compelling state interest and achieved by the least restrictive means. The amendment prohibits the Commonwealth from penalizing, prosecuting, or otherwise taking adverse action against an individual for exercising the individual's right to reproductive freedom or for aiding another individual in the exercise of such right, unless justified by a compelling state interest.
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