Bill Commons

VA HB 781

enacted

Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom(submitting to qualified voters).

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 781 pass?

Yes. VA HB 781 has been enacted into law as of 2026-02-11. Latest recorded action (2026-02-11): Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB781)

What is VA HB 781 about?

Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2026, election to approve or reject an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia relating to the right to make one's own decisions related to reproductive health care, including access to abortion. The amendment protects patients and their doctors and nurses from being punished for making such decisions. The amendment allows the state to place restrictions on access to abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy except when the patient's life or physical or mental health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive. This bill is identical to SB 449.

Who sponsors VA HB 781?

Charniele L. Herring is the primary sponsor of VA HB 781, joined by 23 cosponsors.

Description

Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2026, election to approve or reject an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia relating to the right to make one's own decisions related to reproductive health care, including access to abortion. The amendment protects patients and their doctors and nurses from being punished for making such decisions. The amendment allows the state to place restrictions on access to abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy except when the patient's life or physical or mental health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive. This bill is identical to SB 449.

Introduced
2026-01-13
Latest action
2026-02-11 — Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB781)
Bill type
constitutional amendment
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Charniele L. Herringprimary
  • Shelly A. Simondscosponsor
  • Irene Shincosponsor
  • Holly M. Seiboldcosponsor
  • David A. Reidcosponsor
  • Atoosa R. Reasercosponsor
  • Marcia S. "Cia" Pricecosponsor
  • Kimberly Pope Adamscosponsor
  • Leslie Chambers Mehtacosponsor
  • Garrett McGuirecosponsor
  • Marty Martinezcosponsor
  • Destiny LeVere Bollingcosponsor
  • Kathy K.L. Trancosponsor
  • Karen Keys-Gamarracosponsor
  • Michael B. Fegganscosponsor
  • Mark C. Downeycosponsor
  • Rae Cousinscosponsor
  • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowlercosponsor
  • Laura Jane Cohencosponsor
  • Betsy B. Carrcosponsor
  • Katrina Callsencosponsor
  • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parkercosponsor
  • Alex Q. Askewcosponsor
  • Amy J. Laufercosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-13

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101671D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-13

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-23

    Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 7-N)

    committee-passage

  4. 2026-01-27

    Read first time

    reading-1

  5. 2026-01-28

    Read second time and engrossed

    reading-2

  6. 2026-01-29

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB781)

  7. 2026-01-29

    Read third time and passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  8. 2026-01-29

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  9. 2026-01-29

    Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    referral-committee

  10. 2026-01-30

    Reported from Privileges and Elections (7-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  11. 2026-01-30

    Read second time

    reading-2

  12. 2026-02-02

    Read third time

    reading-3

  13. 2026-02-02

    Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    passage

  14. 2026-02-04

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  15. 2026-02-04

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB781ER)

    passage

  16. 2026-02-04

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  17. 2026-02-04

    Signed by President

    passage

  18. 2026-02-04

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on February 04, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  19. 2026-02-04

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., February 11, 2026

    executive-receipt

  20. 2026-02-06

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 2 (Effective February 6, 2026)

    executive-signature

  21. 2026-02-06

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0002)

  22. 2026-02-11

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB781)

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Reported from Privileges and Elections

    2026-01-23 · pass · 15-7

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Eric Phillips: no

  • H VOTE:

    2026-01-29 · pass · 64-35

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Reported from Privileges and Elections

    2026-01-30 · pass · 7-6

    Member-level votes (17)
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: not voting
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: not voting
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: not voting
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Michael J. Jones: not voting

  • Passage R

    2026-02-02 · pass · 21-19

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Adam P. Ebbin: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB781

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

Use this data

Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=VA&identifier=HB 781. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

Known limitations

  • Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
  • Committee referrals are not yet captured.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.