# Virginia SJ1: Constitutional amendment (second reference); fundamental right to reproductive freedom.

Virginia SJ1, Constitutional amendment (second reference); fundamental right to reproductive freedom., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic); status adopted, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0977)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SJ1-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SJ1
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Constitutional amendment (second reference); fundamental right to reproductive freedom.
- Status: adopted
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-11-17
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0977)
- Sponsor: Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 7 (141 yes, 106 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Constitutional amendment (second reference); fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Provides that every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom and that such right shall not be, directly or indirectly, denied, burdened, or infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest, as defined in the amendment, and achieved by the least restrictive means. The amendment specifies that, notwithstanding the other provisions of the amendment, the Commonwealth may regulate the provision of abortion care in the third trimester, provided that in no circumstance shall the Commonwealth prohibit an abortion (i) that in the professional judgment of a physician is medically indicated to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual or (ii) when in the professional judgment of a physician the fetus is not viable.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- No punishment for reproductive choices or help: benefit, high. The Commonwealth cannot penalize or prosecute you for using your reproductive rights. This covers pregnancy outcomes like miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion. People who help you, with your voluntary consent, cannot be punished. The state must protect and enforce these rights without discriminati…
- Constitutional right to reproductive freedom: benefit, high. The Virginia Constitution protects your right to make reproductive health decisions. This includes prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, abortion, miscarriage care, and fertility care. The government may limit this right only for a compelling state interest and by the least res…
- Third-trimester abortion rules with safeguards: mixed, high. Virginia may regulate abortion care in the third trimester. It cannot ban an abortion that a physician judges is needed to protect the pregnant person’s life or physical or mental health. It also cannot ban an abortion when a physician judges the fetus is not viable.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Agreed to by House | pass | 59 | 35 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | House | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-01-16 | Senate | Agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-01-15 | Senate | Senator Jordan, Emily M. Amendment rejected | fail | 19 | 20 |   |
| 2026-01-15 | Senate | Senator Durant, Tara A. Amendment rejected | fail | 19 | 20 |   |
| 2026-01-15 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-14 | Senate | Reported from Privileges and Elections | pass | 8 | 6 |   |

## Actions (23)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0977) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Assigned Chapter 977 (Effective 7/1/2026) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ1ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Agreed to by House (59-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Taken up (House)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-01-20: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (House)
- 2026-01-16: Agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-16: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Floor offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Floor offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Senator Jordan, Emily M. Amendment rejected(19-Y 20-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Senator Durant, Tara A. Amendment rejected (19-Y 20-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Reading of amendment waived (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Reading of amendment waived (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Read first time (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2025-11-17: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections (Senate)
- 2025-11-17: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100580D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224871.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224870.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107842.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107841.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-16: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SJ1)
- Amendment, 2026-01-15: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088936.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088945.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-11-17: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081176.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081175.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224871.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224870.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107842.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107841.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SJ1)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088936.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088945.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081176.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1081175.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SJ1-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).