SB 449 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom(submitting to qualified voters).

Summary
Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2026, election to approve or reject an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia relating to the right to make one's own decisions related to reproductive health care, including access to abortion. The amendment protects patients and their doctors and nurses from being punished for making such decisions. The amendment allows the state to place restrictions on access to abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy except when the patient's life or physical or mental health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive. This bill is identical to HB 781.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Feb 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Feb 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill transitioned from an enrolled draft to a formally chaptered version with minor formatting adjustments and a specific approval date added. The substantive policy content regarding reproductive freedom rights, ballot language, and election procedures remains unchanged. This represents a procedural milestone in the legislative process rather than a policy modification.
TECHNICAL

Added approval date (February 6, 2026) and chapter number (Chapter 3) to indicate formal legislative enactment status

Adjusted line breaks and spacing throughout the document for proper formatting in the chaptered version

Removed placeholder formatting lines and draft indicators that were present in the enrolled version

Floor votes · Senate Jan 22, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 39
Jan 22, 2026
D Democratic20
19 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
11
Committee
4
Feb 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 3 (effective July 1, 2026 )
executive
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB449ER)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (64-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 7-N)
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 17-N 0-A)
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jennifer Boysko
Jennifer Boysko
DDemocratic
VA
38