In Virginia, Democrats pushed forward resolutions in the House of Delegates aimed at getting measures on abortion, marriage, and felon voting on the ballot in 2026. Democrats, who hold a narrow 51-49 majority in the state House,

Virginia Democrats are hoping to pass a bill to make abortion more accessible in the third trimester under specific situations.

The newly-passed resolution has a long way before it could become part of the state's constitution. However, House Republicans said it already violates state laws.

Lawmakers in the Virginia House of Delegates passed resolutions on Tuesday enshrining rights to abortion, voting and marriage equality in a critical step for Democrats hoping to amend the state’s constitution next year.

After a long and spirited debate, Virginia House Democrats have advanced a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

The amendment would ensure a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom,” protecting abortion in the first two trimesters and in the third trimester with some restrictions.

The Virginia House of Delegates passed three state constitutional amendments Tuesday that would enshrine in state law reproductive rights, same-sex marriage and automatic restoration of voting

The House also backed proposed amendments on restoration of rights for felons who have served their time and to remove moot language barring same-sex marriage.

It’s not easy to amend Virginia’s constitution, but Democrats in the House of Delegates took the first step to amend it three times Tuesday.

To reach voters, the resolutions — which do not require Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s signature — must pass both chambers this year and again next year before appearing on statewide ballots in November 2026.

Washington, DC stands out as a refuge for reproductive rights: Unlike the 20-plus states that have moved to restrict abortion since the US Supreme Court’s June 2022 Dobbs decision, DC has no mandated waiting period for abortion, no parental notification laws, and no limits based on gestational age.

The Virginia General Assembly returns Jan. 8 for a pivotal legislative season testing the balance of power between a GOP governor and a Democratic-controlled legislature.