This week Delegate Nick Freitas (R-Culpeper)filed HB 1274, titled the “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act“. It reads:
“The Act prohibits an abortion after 20 weeks gestation unless, in reasonable medical judgment, the mother has a condition that so complicates her medical condition as to necessitate the abortion to avert her death or to avert serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.”
With Republicans controlling the HOD, the bill will easily pass in that body. Because the Democrats control the Virginia Senate (51-49) Republicans will need one Democrat vote to tie it. Republican Lt.Governor Winsome Sears would then break the tie with her vote and the bill would pass to the Governor to sign into law.
Senator Joe Morrissey may provide the only Democrat vote necessary to pass the bill into law. Morrissey has stated he is “unapologetically pro-life” and as recently as a year ago he voted with Republicans to add restrictions to abortion.
