I read the Virginia abortion bill in the same way as David does. The good news is that it is unlikely to be enacted.

But as I pointed out the other day, Vermont’s goes all the way to creating an absolute right to an abortion, at any time in the pregnancy and for any reason, with no limitations as to method. For those who might have missed it, here’s the pertinent portion of H-0057 (my emphasis):

The General Assembly intends this act to safeguard the right to abortion in Vermont by ensuring that right is not denied, restricted, or infringed by a governmental entity.

Sec. 2. 18 V.S.A. Chapter 223 is added to read:

CHAPTER 223: REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS Subchapter 1. Freedom of Choice Act 11

§ 9493. INDIVIDUAL REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS 12

(a) Every individual has the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraception or sterilization.

(b) Every individual who becomes pregnant has the fundamental right to choose to carry a pregnancy to term, give birth to a child, or to have an abortion.

(c) A fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under Vermont law.

Unlike New York’s new law and the Virginia legislation, there is nothing at all in the bill about distinguishing non-viability of the fetus from viability.

There is no pretense of limiting late-term abortion to circumstances in which the life or health of the mother might be impacted.

There is nothing mentioned about what to do with a born baby that survives abortion.


It establishes a “fundamental right to abortion,” meaning an absolute right that cannot be infringed or restrained in any way.

The bill has 91 co-sponsors. It could very well pass. If it does, I do believe it will become the most radical abortion legalization statute in the world.