Gov. Northam Signs Bills Removing Abortion Restrictions

RICHMOND, VA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has signed bills to roll back certain restrictions on abortion in the state, his office announced Friday. The governor signed Senate Bill 733, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer McClellan, and House Bill 980, sponsored by House Majority Leader Charniele Herring. The bills are known as the Reproductive Health Protection Act.

The measures repeal the state's mandatory ultrasound law and 24-hour waiting period prior to abortion. They also roll back regulations designed to force the closure of women's health centers that provide abortions and make it more difficult for women to get access to the health care services in the state.

The restrictions were enacted when Republicans controlled Virginia's General Assembly. The new bills, passed by the Democratic-controlled state legislature in February, will take effect July 1.

"No more will legislators in Richmond — most of whom are men — be telling women what they should and should not be doing with their bodies," Northam said in a statement. "The Reproductive Health Protection Act will make women and families safer, and I'm proud to sign it into law."

Among abortion foes in Richmond, Del. Kathy Byron said in a floor speech during the General Assembly session that the removal of the restrictions would lead to women being less informed about "maybe one of the most important decisions that they ever make."

But McClellan, a Democrat, said the governor's signature means the state has "finally put an end to these medically unnecessary barriers to women's reproductive health care."

"Politicians should not interfere in women's personal medical decisions, period," McClellan said.