Governor Glenn Youngkin rejected a bill, arguing it overly targets political entities, parents, and medical professionals. The Republican governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, vetoed a series of bills on Friday, one of which aimed to further ease access to contraception in the state. In a statement on May 17, the governor expressed a willingness to work with the General Assembly on future language but deemed several bills unready for enactment.
Among the bills vetoed was SB237, which sought to ensure Virginians’ access to contraceptives and establish legal recourse for violations. In his veto statement, Youngkin criticized SB237 for its broad implications for political subdivisions, parents, and medical professionals.
Additionally, he vetoed SB238, which would have mandated insurers to cover contraceptive drugs in health insurance plans covering outpatient prescription drugs. While supporting contraception access, Youngkin emphasized the need for robust conscience clause protections for providers and parental decision-making rights. He reiterated his support for contraception access but insisted on preserving Virginians’ religious freedoms.
Youngkin argued that contraception access was already safeguarded by the Constitution. His decision faced backlash from Democratic lawmakers, who emphasized the importance of safeguarding contraception access post the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Susan Swecker, chair of the Virginia Democratic Party, criticized Youngkin’s veto, stating it harms thousands of Virginians.
Senator Ghazala Hashmi and delegate Marcia Price condemned the governor’s decision, pledging to persist in their efforts to pass the legislation. They accused Youngkin of aligning with extremists in his party who equate contraception with abortion and vowed to continue the fight.
