House Floor Vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

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

Richmond, Va. – Today the Virginia Senate passed SJ247, a resolution to amend the Virginia constitution to enshrine a fundamental right to reproductive freedom. The resolution passed the Senate on a floor vote of 21-19.  The resolution’s House cognate (HJ1)  was advanced by a floor vote of 51:48 on January 13. The resolutions will next move through crossover and ultimately appear for another full vote of the General Assembly in February. These are the first steps in a multi-year process to amend the Virginia constitution to enshrine the right to make decisions regarding their own reproductive health care without government interference. It is a particularly poignant vote as we mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a reminder of the generations-long fight to secure and protect reproductive freedom. With Roe now overturned, Virginia must take decisive action to ensure that everyone in our state retains the ability to make personal decisions about their health, free from political interference. Recent polling suggests 61% of Virginians already support this resolution.

“Virginians for Reproductive Freedom is thrilled to see SJ247 advance to crossover,” said Gabriella Watson, Virginia State Policy Advocate for National Latina Institute of Reproductive Justice, a member of VRF. “This vote brings us one step closer to a time when our community can finally vote to protect our fundamental rights. The vast majority of Virginians are committed to keeping the government out of our doctors’ offices and making sure that decisions about pregnancy are left up to the pregnant people and their medical providers. We expect to make that clear at the ballot box next November. ” 

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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.