The Virginia House of Delegates passed resolutions to enshrine abortion rights, voting rights, and marriage equality in the state’s constitution. The measures are a key part of the Democrats’ legislative agenda and will move forward to the Senate, where similar resolutions are in progress.
These proposed constitutional amendments cannot be vetoed by the governor, but they must pass twice over two years and be approved by voters in a referendum.
The abortion rights amendment, if successful, would make Virginia one of the few southern states to protect reproductive rights through a public vote. The House also approved a revision to restore voting rights to people who’ve completed felony sentences, responding to Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s rollback of rights restoration. Additionally, lawmakers passed a resolution protecting marriage equality, which received significant bipartisan support.
The resolution protecting marriage equality garnered the most bipartisan support, passing with a 58-35 vote. Delegate Mark Sickles, who sponsored the amendment, framed the proposal as a reflection of Virginia’s changing values.
The amendments’ passage next year will depend on Democrats maintaining their majority in the statehouse in the November elections. If approved, these changes would reflect a shift in Virginia’s values and policies on key issues.
The House, where Democrats hold a slim 51-49 majority, advanced all three proposed constitutional amendments. The resolutions now head to the state Senate, where similar bills are making their way through.
