Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB137: An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-404.1, relating to obstructing reproductive health care facility; penalties.
Status: Chaptered, April 22, 2026
Obstructing reproductive health care facility; penalties. Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who (i) by force or threat of force, or by physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates, or interferes with, or attempts to injure, intimidate, or interfere with, another person because such other person is or has been, or in order to intimidate such person or any other person or any class of persons from, obtaining or providing reproductive health services, defined in the bill, or (ii) intentionally damages or destroys, or attempts to damage or destroy, a reproductive health care facility, defined in the bill, because such facility provides reproductive health services. The bill also provides that the provisions of the bill shall not be construed to place any restriction on the content of any message that anyone may wish to communicate to anyone else, either inside or outside a reproductive health care facility.
What the bill says
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-404.1, relating to obstructing reproductive health care facility; penalties. [S 137] Approved April 22, 2026 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 18.2-404.1 as penalties. A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning: "Interfere with" means to restrict a person's freedom of movement. "Intimidate" means to place a person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm to himself or to another person. "Physical obstruction" means rendering impassable ingress to or egress.
From the enrolled text, April 22, 2026:
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-404.1, relating to obstructing reproductive health care facility; penalties. [S 137] Approved April 22, 2026 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 18.2-404.1 as penalties. A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning: "Interfere with" means to restrict a person's freedom of movement. "Intimidate" means to place a person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm to himself or to another person. "Physical obstruction" means rendering impassable ingress to or egress from a facility that provides reproductive health services or rendering passage to or from such facility unreasonably or unnecessarily difficult or hazardous to another person. "Reproductive health care facility" a facility that provides reproductive health services and includes a hospital, clinic, and physician's office and the building or structure in which the facility is located. "Reproductive health services" means reproductive health services provided in a hospital, clinic, physician's office, or other facility and includes any institution, place, building, or agency that is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized or permitted by law in the Commonwealth to administer or provide medical treatment, including medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services relating to the human reproductive system such as pregnancy or termination of a pregnancy. B. Any person who (i) …