Advocates for tighter restrictions on abortion clinics are starting a last-minute push to get the long-sought measure through the Virginia Senate before the General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment on Saturday. The Virginia House of Delegates added an amendment to a bill this week to reclassify as hospitals abortion clinics that perform five or more first-trimester abortions per month. Abortion facilities are currently regulated as outpatient clinics, similar to the way oral or cosmetic surgery centers are regulated.
| In Richmond Wednesday |
| — The House of Delegates signed off on a $30 million trust fund to address the state’s depleted services for the intellectually disabled and help transition people from institutions to community-based care. Virginia has about a month to address findings from the Department of Justice blasting the state for its ineffective system and prevent a potential federal lawsuit. |
| — The House and Senate delayed the deadline for budget negotiators to agree on amendments to the state’s two-year budget until midnight Thursday; no deal was reached by the original deadline of midnight on Tuesday. |
| — The General Assembly approved legislation that would create a statewide inspector general’s office to combat waste, fraud and abuse in state agencies, consolidating existing operations at the Departments of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Corrections, Juvenile Justice, and Transportation. |
Proponents of the measure, such as Sen. Jeff McWaters, R-Virginia Beach, argue the stricter regulations are aimed at protecting women’s health.
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