2026 Virginia General Assembly Session Was the Year of Reproductive Freedom 

DATE: March 24, 2026   
Media Contact: Chrisi West, Sr. Communications Manager    
Email: cwest@reprorisingva.org    

Richmond, VA – The 2026 General Assembly took action this session to protect reproductive freedom at historic levels. All of REPRO Rising Virginia’s (RRVA) priority bills made it out of the legislature ready for the Governor’s signature, and unlike in previous years we expect the current Governor to sign them all into law. RRVA was also able to help beat back 7 bills limiting or restricting reproductive healthcare.  

Hundreds of RRVA advocates supported reproductive freedom champions Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, Senator Stella Pekarsky, Delegate Cia Price, and Delegate Josh Thomas as their bills moved through the legislative process. More than 8,000 messages were sent directly to elected officials during the 8-week session from REPRO Rising Virginia’s Legislative Rapid Response Team. 

“About 400,000 women in Virginia live in contraceptive deserts, meaning they face multiple barriers to accessing birth control,” said Tarina Keene, executive director of REPRO Rising Virginia. “There is no true access without affordability, so passing the Right to Contraception Act in tandem with the Contraceptive Equity Act will ensure thousands of Virginians will get their contraceptives and therapeutic equivalents covered by their insurance at no cost to them, including over-the-counter options.  

“Pair those bills with the Constitutional Amendment for Reproductive Freedom, which will be going to voters in November, and you have protected a spectrum of healthcare that includes birth control, IVF and fertility treatment, abortion, childbirth, prenatal care, miscarriage management, and post-partum care. That affects millions of people every year in the Commonwealth and beyond. 

“At a time when the federal government is rolling back rights and other states are limiting or even outright banning access to abortion and birth control, Virginia has shown itself to be a leader in the southern United States. Thousands of Virginians and non-Virginians alike will be able to safely access the healthcare they need because the 2026 General Assembly passed historic levels of protection.  

REPRO Rising Virginia priority bills that passed the 2026 General Assembly –  

• Constitutional Amendment for Reproductive Freedom resolution; 
• Ballot language outlining the Constitutional Amendment for Reproductive Freedom; 
• Right to Contraception Act (HB6/SB596); 
• Contraceptive Equity Act (HB1182/SB361); 
• Abortion Clinic Access Protection Act (SB137). 

With a special budget session scheduled for April 23rd, REPRO Rising Virginia also supports budget amendment 4-5.04 #1s, which protects the Commonwealth’s ability to use state funds to cover abortion care for Medicaid-eligible people in cases where there is a fetal anomaly consistent with existing law. Governor Youngkin stripped this funding in his budget draft, but the current General Assembly has added this funding back to the budget. This amendment, plus $1.4 million added to Senate budget for Planned Parenthood family planning services through Medicaid that was cut by the Trump Administration, will help to ensure reproductive healthcare is accessible and affordable for the most vulnerable Virginians. 

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REPRO Rising Virginia 501(c4) is one of the leading reproductive rights and freedom organizations in the Commonwealth, and the only reproductive rights organization focused solely on policy and political outcomes in Virginia.  

REPRO Rising Virginia is working to ensure that every Virginian has access to the full range of reproductive rights, and will mobilize a statewide network of more than 50,000 members and activists to pass the Constitutional Amendment for Reproductive Freedom.