Right to reproductive choice. Provides thatevery individual has a fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptionand that a pregnant person has a fundamental right to choose to carrya pregnancy to term, give birth to a child, or terminate a pregnancy.The bill states that the Commonwealth shall not, in the regulationor provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information, denyor interfere with an individual's fundamental rights, including individualsunder state control or supervision. The bill states that any stateor local official who is charged with violating provisions of thissection shall be subject to an action in federal or state court forinjunctive relief and damages. Such action may be brought by any person or entity that may be aggrieved by such official's actions.
Sponsored bills
Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices; sexual orientation and gender identity. Adds discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity as an unlawful housing practice. The bill defines "sexual orientation" and "gender identity." This bill was incorporated into SB 868.
Prohibited discrimination in public employment and housing; sexual orientation or gender identity. Prohibits discrimination in public employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill also codifies for state and local government employment the current prohibitions on discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, or status as a veteran. Additionally, the bill adds discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity as an unlawful housing practice. The bill defines "sexual orientation" and "gender identity." This bill was incorporated into HB 1663.
Virginia Human Rights Act; prohibited discrimination; sexual orientation and gender identity. Adds discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity as an unlawful discriminatory practice under the Virginia Human Rights Act. The bill also creates a cause of action if any person employed by an employer who employs more than five but fewer than 15 persons is discharged by such employer on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill defines "sexual orientation" and "gender identity." The bill contains technical amendments and was incorporated into HB 1663.
Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatoryhousing practices; sexual orientation and gender identity. Addsdiscrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual orientationor gender identity as an unlawful housing practice. The bill defines"sexual orientation" and "gender identity." This bill was incorporatedinto HB 1663.
Virginia Minimum Wage Act; exclusions. Eliminates the exclusion in the Virginia Minimum Wage Act for persons whose employment is covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and for persons whose earning capacity is impaired by physical deficiency, mental illness, or intellectual disability. The measure also exempts, until July 1, 2024, from the Virginia Minimum Wage Act any person who is paid pursuant to a special certificate that provides for the employment of individuals whose earning or productive capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental deficiency, or injury at wages lower than the minimum wage otherwise required by the FLSA.
Constitution of the United States; Equal RightsAmendment. Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitutionof the United States that was proposed by Congress in 1972.
Commending the Washington Nationals.
Absentee voting; no excuse required. Permits any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he is qualified to vote. The bill removes the current list of statutory reasons under which a person may be entitled to vote by absentee ballot and removes references to those reasons from other sections of the Code. This bill was incorporated into HB 1.
ABC; work group; tied house provisions; report.Directs the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to convene a work group to study the tied house provisions that prevent(i) a restaurant licensed to sell alcoholic beverages at retail inthe Commonwealth that is under common control or ownership with abrewery, limited brewery, winery, farm winery, distiller, or limiteddistiller licensee from selling alcoholic beverages produced by suchbrewery, limited brewery, winery, farm winery, distiller, or limiteddistiller licensee and (ii) a licensee from employing a person whois also employed by a licensee operating in a different tier of theCommonwealth's three-tier alcoholic beverage control system. The bill requires the Authority to report the findings and recommendationsof the work group to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Rehabilitationand Social Services and the House Committee on General Laws by November30, 2020.