Virginia Democrats seek to expand abortion protections in upcoming legislative session
In this year’s fight for majority control of the General Assembly, abortion emerged as a key election issue in races for the Virginia House and Senate. By electing Democratic majorities in both chambers, voters in the commonwealth told lawmakers that they wanted reproductive rights in the commonwealth to be protected.
Now that Virginians’ reproductive freedoms are no longer under immediate threat, the incoming Democratic majorities in the General Assembly are looking to expand abortion protections.
Democratic Sen. Barbara Favola, who represents part of northern Virginia, is acting on voters’ wishes by introducing legislation aimed at protecting those who travel to Virginia to access abortion care and those who assist these efforts from attempts by other states to punish them.
Senate Bill 15 – which is being co-sponsored by eight other Democrats – would prohibit Virginia’s governor from recognizing demands for extradition of any person charged with criminal violations of another state’s anti-abortion laws. This prohibition applies not only to those who obtain or assist with obtaining abortions in the commonwealth, but also to anyone who violates a state’s anti-abortion law in that state and then seeks refuge in Virginia.
https://vadogwood.com/2023/12/14/virginia-democrats-seek-to-expand-abortion-protections-in-upcoming-legislative-session/