HB 542 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Abortion; informed written consent, newborn safety devices.

Summary

Provision of abortion; informed written consent; newborn safety devices. Requires the physician or advanced practice registered nurse authorized to perform an abortion, induction, or termination to provide certain written information regarding newborn safety devices for the purposes of effectuating a pregnant woman's informed written consent prior to the abortion, induction, or termination. The bill directs the Department of Health to publish by October 1, 2026, in English and in each language that is the primary language of two percent or more of the population of the Commonwealth, such information relating to newborn safety devices in such a way as to ensure that the information is easily comprehensible.

Issues: ✗ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Feb 18, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Health and Human Services Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended by the Health and Human Services Committee to change the language from 'newborn safety devices' to 'safe haven provisions' and to add a formal definition clarifying that this refers to existing safe haven laws (sections 18.2-371, 18.2-371.1, and 40.1-103). This change clarifies the legal terminology being referenced and aligns the bill with existing safe haven statutes that provide legal protections for parents who surrender infants at designated locations.

Scope change

The scope remains focused on abortion consent requirements, but the specific topic of information disclosure was narrowed from 'newborn safety devices' to the more precise legal term 'safe haven provisions', which refers to established laws allowing parents to safely surrender newborns.

DEFINITION

Changed 'newborn safety devices' to 'safe haven provisions' throughout the bill text to use consistent legal terminology.

Added a new subsection defining 'safe haven provisions' as the existing laws in sections 18.2-371, 18.2-371.1, and 40.1-103 that provide legal protections for parents who surrender infants within 30 days of birth.

REQUIREMENT

Updated references from 'newborn safety devices' to 'safe haven provisions' in the requirements for physicians to provide written information and discuss these provisions with pregnant women before abortion procedures.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Left in Committee Health and Human Services

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 1-N)

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

Assigned sub: Health

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors