In a late-evening action, Youngkin vetoes abortion-related and family medical leave bills

Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed four abortion-related bills and a bill that would have provided paid family medical leave for Virginians late Friday evening.

He signed a bill to expand Virginia’s secure firearm storage tax credit to include more devices.

He acted late Friday evening on 110 bills total. His action included 11 vetoes, 11 amendments and 88 signatures.

The General Assembly is schedule to reconvene on April 17 for a special session to consider the governor’s actions on legislation as well as the budget. If the legislature hopes to override the governor’s veto on any piece of legislation, they’ll need to reach a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

Abortion-related bills vetoed

Bills HB519 and SB716, if signed would have prohibited the Virginia Board of Medicine from taking disciplinary action against a doctor who provides abortion care; bills HB1539 and SB15, if signed, would have prohibited extradition from the commonwealth for health professionals who provide abortion care deemed illegal in another state.

In his veto statement, Youngkin argued that HB519 and SB716 would have jeopardized the safety of women and undermined “the duty of the board in providing necessary disciplinary measures against doctors engaging in unsafe practices.”

He argued that the nation's cooperative extradition system “could collapse if individual states were to carve out crimes for which they would not recognize codified laws because of differing political positions.”

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia signaled their disappointment in the vetoes in a thread of posts on X Friday evening.

“By vetoing these bills, failing to take an important stand against overzealous prosecution, the Gov. has sent a discouraging message to VA health care professionals dedicated to reproductive rights and to the patients that rely on the availability of essential health services,” one of the posts read.

The Democratic Party of Virginia also blasted the governor’s vetoes in a statement.

“Virginia is the only state where women in the South have access to abortions,” Susan Swecker, Democratic Party of Virginia chair, said. “Even though Virginians made it clear in November that they are against Glenn Youngkin’s extreme anti-abortion agenda, he is still trying to do everything in his limited power to strip away reproductive rights.”

Youngkin had championed a potential 15-week abortion ban in Virginia if Republicans took control of the General Assembly, ahead of the 2023 election. Republicans lost control of the House of Delegates and failed to take control of the Senate in November.

Family medical leave bill vetoed

SB373, if signed, would have required the Virginia Employment Commission to establish a 12-week paid family and medical leave benefits program, to begin in January 2027.

In his veto statement, Youngkin called the plan a “one-size-fits-all solution that removes the incentive for the private sector to provide these benefits.”

“Many businesses in Virginia already have paid family and medical leave policies,” he said, and noted that it would be unfair for the commonwealth to be exempt from the mandate while small businesses and non-profit organizations were not exempt.

“Paid family and medical leave is non-negotiable for working families who are grappling with illness, helping care for family members, or taking some time to welcome a new child. We’ve spent years pushing for this bill, and we’re furious that Governor Youngkin has vetoed it despite the clear will of the people to get it passed,” LaTwyla Mathias, executive director of Progress Virginia, said in a statement.

Gun storage tax credit expanded

Youngkin signed HB35, which will expand Virginia’s secure firearm storage tax credit to include more devices such as cable locks, an action which was applauded by gun safety advocates.

Advocates called the governor’s action “recognition of the lifesaving power of secure storage for firearms and another bipartisan step forward to make Virginia safer from gun violence and strengthen our gun safety laws.”

“Bolstering the tools to encourage the secure storage of firearms is critical and will ultimately save lives in the Commonwealth and we’re grateful to Delegate [Nadarius] Clark for championing this bill,” Amanda Faulkner, a volunteer with the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action, said in a statement Friday.

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This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Virginia Gov. Youngkin vetoes abortion and family medical leave bills