Bill > SB780

This bill establishes a new legal chapter in Virginia addressing contraception access and protections. It explicitly affirms the right of individuals to access contraception, drawing legal precedent from two landmark Supreme Court cases (Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird) that historically established constitutional privacy protections related to contraception. The bill creates a nuanced policy that simultaneously protects individual access to contraception while also providing a religious and conscientious objection exemption for private institutions and healthcare providers. Specifically, while the bill asserts a public policy supporting contraception access, it also allows physicians, private institutions, and their employees to refuse providing contraception, contraceptive procedures, supplies, or information if doing so conflicts with their religious or moral beliefs. This exemption means that such entities cannot be legally penalized or held liable for declining to offer contraceptive services based on these objections. The bill appears designed to balance individual reproductive rights with institutional religious freedom, creating a framework that respects both principles.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB780