Bill > SB1105

This bill establishes a legal right to access contraception in Virginia, drawing from landmark Supreme Court cases Griswold v. Connecticut and Eisenstadt v. Baird that originally established privacy rights related to contraception. The bill creates a new chapter in the Virginia Code specifically dedicated to contraception and stipulates that individuals have an independent right to access contraceptive services, procedures, supplies, and information. Importantly, the bill includes a conscience clause that protects private institutions, physicians, and their employees from being compelled to provide contraception if doing so conflicts with their religious or personal beliefs, and shields them from potential legal liability for refusing to offer such services. By codifying this right at the state level, the bill aims to ensure contraceptive access while also respecting individual and institutional religious freedoms, providing a balanced approach to reproductive healthcare rights. The bill does not mandate that any entity provide contraceptive services, but rather affirms the fundamental right of individuals to obtain such services if they choose to do so.

Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1105