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Delegate raises questions about scope of proposed 'reproductive freedom' constitutional amendment, urges study
Summary
During the House morning hour, Delegate Zehr pressed for study of HJ1—the proposed constitutional amendment on "reproductive freedom," saying the body lacks legal clarity about what the amendment would allow and asking multiple specific questions about minors, parental consent, medical obligations and definitions. No formal action was taken.
Delegate Zehr (Delegate from Campbell) used a point of personal privilege during the House morning hour to renew a request—made over two years—for a study panel to examine the potential effects of HJ1, the proposed constitutional amendment that would add a right to “reproductive freedom” to the Virginia Constitution.
Zehr said the General Assembly has not done the legal or policy work needed to understand what the amendment would change. "We don't know for certain what it will do," Zehr said, noting that the amendment would introduce new constitutional language that has no settled definition in the Code of Virginia, the existing state constitution or case law.
Why it matters: Zehr argued that amending the…
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