Olivia Gans Turner: Governor's First Vetoes and Amendments

Yesterday, March 8th,  Governor Youngkin acted on the first bills to come out of the General Assembly session. Among them was SB238, a bill that will require employers to provide insurance coverage of contraceptives, including those that may cause abortions. The language is broad enough to possibly allow the inclusion of chemical abortion drugs among those that could be covered. Although VSHL takes no position on contraceptives, the language of this bill makes no provision for the religious or ethical objections of employers and could force them to pay for abortion-causing drugs.

The Governor has added an amendment to the bill to protect the religious/ ethical liberty of employers. It will be voted on in April when the GA reconvenes for "Veto Day."   From the Governor's office: SB 238, Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices. Amended to ensure that non-governmental plan sponsors with sincerely held religious or moral beliefs are not required to provide insurance coverage for contraception in accordance with existing federal and state law. The Governor also vetoed HB 110, a bill that would allow surrogacy brokers and recruiters to establish businesses in Virginia. VSHL opposed this bill because it could lead to the exploitation of women and the unborn children they would carry.

Read more from the Governor's office here. More bills are awaiting action from Governor Youngkin, who has thirty days after passage by the General Assembly to make his decisions.