HB609 establishes the “right” to access contraception, including contraceptive drugs, devices, and sterilization procedures. It prohibits any law, regulation, or policy that “restricts access” to contraceptives or related information. Health care providers are also given the “right” to offer contraceptives and related services. The bill outlines legal protections for individuals or entities whose “rights” are infringed, providing a defense if a law significantly advances health and safety.
The Virginia State House of Delegates passed HB609 on February 28, 2024 by a vote of 55 to 44. We have assigned pluses to the nays because contraception is not a right, and the care of human life—not its destruction—is the greatest responsibility of government. Both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution affirm the fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right to life and limb of every person. Therefore, each of the several States has a duty to defend the basic humanity of all its citizens, especially the preborn.