ICYMI: REPRO Advocacy Day 2026
Find out what you missed in Richmond at REPRO Advocacy Day!
If you were unable to attend REPRO Advocacy Day 2026, first, we’re sorry to have missed you! It was a really fun and productive day. But have no fear, we’ve got your back with some highlights so you can assuage your FOMO.
Advocates gathered to check in and get their information packets for the day. They also met their team leader and fellow team members and learned who they would be meeting with throughout the morning.
Breakfast with Lt. Governor Hashmi
The day kicked off with breakfast treats and remarks from Lt. Governor Ghazala Hashmi, a reproductive freedom champion who has been fighting for bodily autonomy since her time in the Virginia Senate. Hashmi made history with her election as the first Indian woman and Muslim woman elected as Lt. Governor (though she did correct us to say she doesn’t feel like SHE made history with her election as Lt. Governor, but that VIRGINIA made history, and we can’t really argue with that)! Lt. Governor Hashmi reminded our advocates that this work is needed, because reproductive healthcare care is saving lives across the Commonwealth.
That was exactly the message we needed to hear; that what we do matters!
MeetingS with lawmakers
Volunteers from Bristol, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Arlington, Richmond, and everywhere in between arrived ready to talk to lawmakers and advocate for the Contraceptive Equity Act and the budget amendment rolling back Governor Youngkin’s changes to the Medicaid exclusions for abortion.
Almost all of the lawmakers were excited to have us visit and shared their eager support for the legislation and budget amendment. Advocates even met with lawmakers from the opposing side of the issue and had productive and professional conversations. Birth control is one thing that lawmakers from both parties should be able to get together on!
Surprise visit with Speaker Don Scott
After visits with lawmakers concluded, many of the advocates convened in the Speakers Conference Room to fill in report forms on their meetings when they received a surprise visit from House Speaker Don Scott! He rallied the volunteers, thanked them for their advocacy on behalf of contraceptives, and fired everyone up for the work still to come on the Constitutional Amendment for Reproductive Freedom. What a way to cap off talking to our elected officials!
Advocates share their stories
REPRO Rising Virginia advocates attended the House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #1 meeting to watch the discussion on the Contraceptive Equity Act (SB361). A substituted version of the Senate bill was submitted for consideration so that the House and Senate versions are now identical; the legislation was reported out to the full committee for a vote (which easily passed on Thursday).
The Contraceptive Equity Act is now headed to the House for a vote! We’re confident that the House of Delegates will pass the matching Senate bill language and send this to Governor Spanberger for signature.
During the subcommittee, testimony was taken from supporters and opponents of the bill. All the advocates testifying in support of the Contraceptive Equity Act were present as part of REPRO Advocacy Day and they did a great job!
You can watch their testimony here:
We’re so grateful to all of the advocates who joined us from across Virginia to make this day so successful!
