Governor Vetoes Two Bills Promoting Abortion Pill Access

Closeup of "Veto" stamp on document page.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed two bills that would have expanded access to abortion pills and contraception, citing concerns over religious liberty and parental rights.

Key Takeaways

Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed the Virginia Right to Contraception Act for the second consecutive year, arguing it lacked adequate conscience protections.
The vetoed bills included HB1716, which aimed to establish a general “right to contraception,” and HB2371, which sought to mandate insurance coverage for certain contraceptives.
Youngkin signed HB1609, which could expand embryo-destructive IVF practices by examining their classification as “essential health benefits.”
Virginia saw a 5,500 increase in abortions from 2023 to 2024, largely due to women traveling from states with stronger pro-life laws.
The governor’s actions reflect the ongoing tension between reproductive access advocates and those concerned with religious freedom and parental rights.

Governor’s Reasoning Behind the Vetoes

Governor Glenn Youngkin defended his decision to veto the contraception bills by emphasizing that access to contraception is already protected under the Constitution. The governor specifically rejected HB1716, which would have codified the right to use and prescribe various forms of contraception, and HB2371, which sought to mandate health insurance coverage for certain contraceptives without religious exemptions. Youngkin’s main objection centered on the lack of conscience clause protections in both pieces of legislation.

“There is no question that access is protected today under the Constitution… Thus, this legislation is unnecessary in its current form,” said Governor Youngkin in his veto statement.

The governor further explained that he had attempted to work with legislators by proposing amendments that would have added conscience clause exemptions to protect religious freedom. When these amendments were rejected, he felt compelled to veto the bills. Youngkin has maintained that while he supports access to contraception, such access must be balanced with protections for religious liberty and parental rights.

Opposition to the Governor’s Actions

Democratic legislators and reproductive rights advocates have strongly criticized the governor’s decisions. State Senator Lamont Bagby expressed disappointment, characterizing the vetoed legislation as “a commonsense bill to safeguard a basic freedom, one that shouldn’t be up for debate in the first place.” Critics argue that the vetoes are part of a broader Republican strategy to restrict reproductive healthcare following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision.

“The General Assembly refused to adopt my reasonable amendments which included the addition of a conscience clause exemption that would protect religious freedom … any legislative action on contraception must be coupled with clear conscience protections and must preserve the rights of families to make personal decisions in accordance with their beliefs,” Youngkin said in a statement.

Those opposing the vetoes also point to contrasting approaches in other Republican-led states. For example, Tennessee’s Republican governor recently signed bipartisan legislation protecting contraception rights, though the measure faced significant opposition within that state’s legislature. This highlights the varied approaches to reproductive health policy among Republican-governed states.

Rising Abortion Numbers and IVF Considerations

While vetoing the contraception and abortion pill bills, Governor Youngkin did sign HB1609, which establishes a workgroup to study the classification of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures as “essential health benefits.” Pro-life advocates have expressed concern that this could lead to expanded practices that result in the destruction of human embryos, raising ethical questions about the balance between assisting infertile couples and protecting life at its earliest stages.

Amid these legislative developments, Virginia has experienced a significant increase in abortions. According to a study by the Guttmacher Institute, the state saw 5,500 more abortions in 2024 compared to 2023. This surge is largely attributed to women traveling from neighboring states with stronger pro-life protections to access abortion services in Virginia. The abortion industry has strategically established facilities near state borders to facilitate this cross-state abortion traffic.

Looking Ahead: Political Implications

These vetoes occur as President Trump begins his new administration, potentially signaling a shift in reproductive health policies at the federal level as well. In Virginia, pro-life advocates face an uncertain future, with concerns that pro-abortion legislation could increase after Governor Youngkin’s term concludes. The vetoes have intensified the debate over reproductive rights, religious freedom, and parental authority, issues that will likely play a significant role in upcoming state and national elections.

The ongoing tensions in Virginia reflect the broader national conversation about how to balance access to reproductive healthcare with protections for religious liberty and conscience rights. As the state continues to see increasing numbers of abortions, these political and ethical debates are unlikely to diminish in the near future.