The Senate met briefly Tuesday afternoon, quickly suspending the constitutional rules to pass Senate Bill 3001, which deals with family planning.
The bill would require private and public employee health insurance coverage for tubal ligation and vasectomies, provide adoptive families eligibility for early childhood intervention programs through the Department of Health and Human Resources, double the state’s adoption tax credit, and increase access to hormonal contraceptives.
The legislation would also remove a current prohibition on licensed pharmacists from dispensing self-administered contraceptives to anyone under the age of 18. The bill would take effect July 1, 2023.
The originating bill now moves to the House of Delegates for consideration.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m.
