Bill > HB6

This bill establishes a statutory right for individuals to obtain contraceptives and engage in contraception, defining "contraception" as the use of contraceptives or sterilization procedures, and "contraceptive" broadly to include any legally marketed drug, device, or biological product intended to prevent pregnancy, such as birth control pills, IUDs, implants, condoms, and emergency contraception. It also clarifies that a "health care provider" is defined as in existing law and grants them the right to provide contraceptives and related information within their professional scope. The bill prohibits any law, regulation, or policy from limiting, delaying, or impeding access to contraceptives or information about them, requiring any party seeking to restrict access to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the restriction significantly advances contraceptive safety and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means, or that the restriction is applied equally to other medically similar products. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that it does not permit sterilization procedures without a patient's voluntary and informed consent. Furthermore, it prevents the Commonwealth or any locality from enforcing laws that prohibit or restrict the sale, provision, use, or aid in obtaining contraceptives, or that make it harder to access FDA-approved contraceptives. The bill empowers the Attorney General and any individual or entity adversely affected by a violation to bring civil actions, and health care providers can sue on behalf of themselves, their staff, and their patients, with courts authorized to set aside unlawful policies and grant injunctive relief.

Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB6