First Votes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Contact: Kelsey Cowger, kelsey@progressva.org, 434-484-2795

RICHMOND, Va. – Today a resolution to amend the Virginia constitution to protect reproductive freedom (SJ247) passed out of its Senate committee by a vote of . Its House cognate (HJ1)  was advanced by the full House by a vote of 51:48. These are  some of the first steps in a multi-year effort to enshrine protection of reproductive freedom in Virginia’s constitution.  

The members of Virginians for Reproductive Freedom (VRF) are gratified that these resolutions continue to advance on the way to becoming a constitutional amendment. VRF released the following statement:

“The vast majority of Virginians agree that a pregnant person and their medical provider should be the only ones making decisions during a pregnancy, but right now in Virginia, access to reproductive care depends on the whims of whoever is in office,” said Gabriella Watson, Virginia State Policy Advocate for National Latina Institute of Reproductive Justice, a member of VRF. “This is why we need to enshrine access to reproductive healthcare somewhere beyond the reach of politicians – and that’s Virginia’s constitution. Virginia’s commitment to reproductive freedom must be deeper and longer-lasting than merely enacting a new law, and lawmakers recognized that today when they moved the process to amend Virginia’s constitution to protect reproductive freedom forward. Virginians for Reproductive Freedom will be involved in this process every step of the way over the next two years.”

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Virginians for Reproductive Freedom

American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia                

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Virginia        

Birth in Color

Equality Virginia

Freedom Virginia

Hamkae Center

League of Women Voters – Virginia

National Council of Jewish Women – Virginia

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice – Virginia

National Women’s Political Caucus – Virginia

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia

Progress Virginia

REPRO Rising Virginia

Whole Woman’s Health Alliance

A Woman’s Choice Danville

Virginia Reproductive Equity Alliance

Young Feminist Party of Virginia

Virginians For Reproductive Freedom (VRF) is a coalition of 17 state and national organizations that represent healthcare providers, patient advocates, and reproductive justice workers. VRF believes that all Virginians should be able to make decisions regarding their own reproductive healthcare, including abortion care, without government interference, and no one should be faced with criminal punishment for making these decisions or providing healthcare.