FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2026
Media: Mary.Olivia@VirginiansForReproductiveFreedom.org
Reproductive Freedom Amendment Advances in the Virginia General Assembly
Richmond, Va. – Yesterday, a resolution to amend the Virginia Constitution to protect reproductive freedom (HJ1) fully passed through the House by a vote of 64:34 after advancing out of the House Privileges and Elections Committee by a vote of 15:7. The Senate version of the resolution (SJ1) advanced by a vote of 8:6 and is expected to pass by the end of the first week of session.
Statewide, supporters of the reproductive freedom amendment celebrated the passage of the resolution through the House of Delegates on day one of session. Once fully passed through the General Assembly, the proposed amendment will appear on the ballot for voters in November.
“The energy behind this amendment catapulted legislators into action today,” said Han Jones, Campaign Manager for Virginians for Reproductive Freedom. “Virginians know that patients and their doctors and nurses are the most qualified to make the health care decisions that are best for them, not politicians.”
During the committee meetings today, legislators heard many powerful testimonies from health care providers, moms, advocates, and other passionate speakers in support of the reproductive freedom amendment.
The proposed amendment protects the freedom to make personal decisions about prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management, and fertility treatment. This amendment will prevent government interference in these personal decisions and ensure politicians cannot take away our freedom to make our own health care decisions, as we have seen happen elsewhere in the South and across the country.
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Virginians for Reproductive Freedom is a coalition of Virginia families, doctors, nurses, and health care organizations, working to ensure Virginians can make reproductive health decisions free from government interference. The ballot measure will amend the Virginia state constitution to protect Virginians’ freedom to make personal decisions about prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management, and fertility care, protect doctors, nurses and patients from being punished for these decisions, and allow restrictions on abortion during the third trimester except when the patient’s health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive.
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
Feminist Generation Virginia