Urgent action needed on bills requiring health plans to cover contraceptives and abortifacients and granting minors a “right” to undergo sterilizations and obtain contraceptives!
Two coercive contraception measures are on Governor Youngkin’s desk for the second time this year. Please click here to urge the Governor to veto these extremely harmful bills that would end lives, violate religious liberty and undercut parental rights!
Here is more on these bills and how they reached this point:
SB 237/HB 609 seeks to grant all persons, including minors, a “right” to obtain contraceptives and undergo sterilization procedures – thus undercutting current law on parental consent before a minor can have a surgical procedure. The legislation would also undermine the religious liberty and conscience rights of hospitals and health clinics that do not provide sterilization procedures or contraceptives due to their beliefs. It would even subject them to lawsuits. It passed the Senate and House during the 2024 session. Gov. Youngkin proposed an amendment to limit the bill’s scope to what existing law already provides, but the amendment failed during the General Assembly’s April 17 “veto session”. The legislation is now back on the Governor’s desk. He has until May 17 to either sign or veto the bill.
SB 238/HB 819 seeks to require health plans to cover contraceptives and even some abortion-inducing drugs. It passed the Senate and House during the 2024 session. Gov. Youngkin proposed an amendment to exempt health plan sponsors whose religious or ethical beliefs conflict with the bill’s requirements. However, the amendment failed during the General Assembly’s April 17 “veto session”. The legislation is now back on the Governor’s desk. He has until May 17 to either sign or veto the bill.
These bills raise fundamental life, liberty and parental rights issues. Please act now to urge vetoes!
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The Virginia Catholic Conference is the public policy agency representing Virginia’s Catholic bishops and their two dioceses.