Virginia's reproductive rights amendment faces legal challenges over procedural step, language

A legal challenge to Virginia’s pending reproductive rights amendment is headed toward a hearing later this month, with potential implications for two other pending constitutional amendments.

At the center of Bansley v. Nardo is an argument that the clerk of the House of Delegates, Paul Nardo, failed to send copies of the amendment to circuit court clerks across the state — a longtime requirement in Virginia’s multi-year constitutional amendment process.

The requirement was intended to increase public awareness of pending referendums by prompting clerks to post amendment language outside courthouses. In modern times, lawmakers argued that information is readily available online and through news organizations, which is why they removed the requirement earlier this year through House Bill 1384.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the measure in February when she advanced the constitutional amendments.



https://virginiamercury.com/2026/07/03/virginias-reproductive-rights-amendment-faces-legal-challenges-over-procedural-step-language/