Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Constitutional Amendment
HJ 1: Constitutional amendment (second reference); fundamental right to reproductive freedom.
Passed both chambers Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HJ 1 is a constitutional amendment introduced in the Virginia House on November 17, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Constitutional amendment (second reference); fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Primary sponsor: Charniele Herring (Democratic). It lists 67 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (March 31, 2026): Signed by Speaker.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
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.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 53
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charniele Herring | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 4 |
| Kimberly Pope Adams | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Lashrecse Aird | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 13 |
| Jessica L. Anderson | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Bonita Anthony | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 92 |
| Alex Askew | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 95 |
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 39 |
| Destiny LeVere Bolling | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 80 |
| David L. Bulova | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Katrina Callsen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 54 |
| Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Betsy Carr | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 78 |
| Stacey Annie Carroll | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Nadarius Clark | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 84 |
| Laura Jane Cohen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15 |
| Nicole Cole | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 66 |
| Josh Cole | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 65 |
| Rae Cousins | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 79 |
| Karrie Delaney | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 9 |
| Lindsey Dougherty | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 75 |
| Mark C. Downey | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Barbara Favola | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 40 |
| Michael Feggans | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 97 |
| Kelly Fowler | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 96 |
| Lily V. Franklin | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Debra Gardner | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 76 |
| Jackie Glass | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 93 |
| Liz Guzmán | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 22 |
| Ghazala F. Hashmi | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Cliff Hayes | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 91 |
| Dan Helmer | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10 |
| J.R. Henson | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 19 |
| Phil Hernandez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 94 |
| Patrick Hope | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1 |
| Michael J. Jones | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Michael J. Jones | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7 |
| Candi Mundon King | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Paul Krizek | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 16 |
| Amy Laufer | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 55 |
| Alfonso Lopez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 3 |
| Michelle Lopes Maldonado | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Marty Martinez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 29 |
| John Chilton McAuliff | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Adele McClure | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2 |
| Delores McQuinn | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 81 |
| Leslie Chambers Mehta | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| May Nivar | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 57 |
| Cia Price | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 85 |
| Sam Rasoul | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 38 |
| Atoosa Reaser | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 27 |
| David Reid | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 28 |
| Don Scott | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 88 |
| Holly Seibold | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12 |
| Briana Sewell | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 25 |
| Irene Shin | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8 |
| Mark D. Sickles | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Marcus Simon | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 13 |
| Shelly Simonds | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 70 |
| J.J. Singh | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 26 |
| Rip Sullivan | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6 |
| Josh Thomas | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 21 |
| Virgil Thornton | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 86 |
| Luke Torian | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 24 |
| Kathy Tran | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 18 |
| Jeion Ward | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 87 |
| Vivian Watts | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 14 |
| Rod Willett | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 58 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Signed by Speaker
- Signed by President
- Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ1ER)
- Agreed to by Senate
- Passed Senate
- Senator Jordan Amendment rejected (18-Y 21-N 0-A)
- Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
- Floor offered Senator Jordan, Emily M. Amendment
- Senator Durant Amendment rejected (18-Y 21-N 0-A)
- Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
- Floor offered Senator Durant, Tara A. Amendment
- Read third time
Showing 12 most recent of 21 actions. Full history