SJ 247 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom (first reference).

Summary
Constitutional amendment (first reference); fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Provides that every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom and that such right shall not be denied, burdened, or infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest, defined within the text of the amendment, and achieved by the least restrictive means. The amendment allows the Commonwealth to regulate the provision of abortion care in the third trimester when it is medically indicated to protect the life or health of the pregnant individual or when the fetus is not viable. The amendment prohibits the Commonwealth from penalizing, prosecuting, or taking adverse action against an individual for exercising the individual's right to reproductive freedom or for aiding another individual in the exercise of such right.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2025
Governor
Introduced Nov 25, 2024 Last action Mar 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill text was converted from an enrolled Senate Joint Resolution format to a chaptered format, with the addition of chapter number 603 and formatting adjustments. The substantive constitutional amendment text regarding reproductive freedom rights remains unchanged.
TECHNICAL

Added chapter number 603 and formatting headers indicating the bill has been enacted into law

Adjusted line breaks and spacing to match official chaptered legislative formatting standards

Removed enrolled session headers and replaced with chaptered session headers

Floor votes · Senate Jan 21, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2025

How they voted

2119
Passed
Total votes 40
Jan 21, 2025
D Democratic21
21 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Nay
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
3
Mar 24, 2025
Committee
Assigned Chapter 603 (Effective 07/01/25)
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ247ER)
upper
Feb 13, 2025
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (51-46-3)
house of delegates
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed by for the day
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (12-Y 10-N)
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time and agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N)
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Amended
Senator Jordan Amendment rejected
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Amended
Senator Durant Amendment rejected
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Introduced
Reading of amendment waived
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by temporarily
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Jan 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N)
upper
Nov 25, 2024
Introduced
Introduced bill reprinted 25101789D
upper
Nov 25, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
upper
1 primary · 20 co-sponsors

Sponsors