Amid passionate debate, civil rights resolutions clear Virginia legislature

Abortion, voting rights, and same-sex marriage protections advance as Republicans warn of legal overreach.

BY: CHARLOTTE RENE WOODS - JANUARY 21, 2025 9:18 PM

There were tears, yells and a call of “out of order” but by the end of the day Virginia’s Senate on Tuesday passed three resolutions aimed at enshrining certain civil rights into the state’s constitution.

The resolutions, presented by Democrats, would protect abortion and other reproductive healthcare access in the state’s constitution, automatically restore voting rights to people who complete felony sentences, and remove a prohibition on same-sex marriage.

Tuesday’s vote is part of a two-year process in which the resolutions must pass each chamber twice before appearing on statewide ballots for voters’ final approval or rejection.

The resolutions, which already passed the House of Delegates last week, were met with robust pushback from Republican lawmakers. Some offered amendments that were not accepted.

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CHARLOTTE RENE WOODS
Charlotte covers politics for Virginia Mercury following several years of state, local and federal government coverage at other Virginia outlets to include the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Charlottesville Tomorrow. Some focal points of her coverage for Virginia Mercury include health and housing policy.

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

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