Bills to Protect Virginians Reproductive Health Care and Privacy on Way to Governor Youngkin

Richmond, Va – Today, two bills to protect Virginians reproductive health privacy and health care passed the House of Delegates and will soon be on their way to Governor Youngkin. SB15 shields those assisting with reproductive health care from extradition and SB16 (Favola) protects menstrual health data.  The House versions of these bills, HB1539 (Simon) and HB78 (Watts) are also moving through the Senate and anticipated to pass both bodies. 

Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia: 

“Today, the Virginia General Assembly passed two pieces of legislation to protect Virginians reproductive health care and privacy. Menstrual health data should always be protected and we congratulate Senator Favola and legislators who passed SB16. 

SB15 aims to mitigate the risk of out-of-state enforcement against those assisting with and providing abortion care to patients from our commonwealth and elsewhere. It is critical that our legislators take every available opportunity to protect patients and providers from criminalization as a result of extreme anti-abortion laws in other states.  We are excited that our legislature continues to champion access to abortion for those in Virginia, and for our neighbors forced to travel away from home to get necessary, time-sensitive care. We know there is still much more to do to continue protecting access to reproductive health care in Virginia. We are encouraged that our elected leaders are eager and determined to ensure that patients can safely access abortion, and that providers can continue offering this critical care. 

We urge Governor Youngkin to sign both of these bills into law to protect reproductive health care access and privacy. Virginians support these efforts and these bills deserve to become law.”  

###