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A bill that would allow ABC stores to open before 1 p.m. on Sundays is poised to pass the House of Delegates. Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, sponsors House Bill 896.
HPV vaccine measure poised to pass House
A measure to repeal a requirement that girls receive the human papilloma virus vaccine before they enter the sixth grade is poised to pass in the House of Delegates today after receiving preliminary approval Thursday.
An amendment proposed by Del. Chris Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, a doctor, to continue to send information to parents about HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer, was rejected.
"Why would we not want young women who grow into young ladies to avoid getting cervical cancer?" Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, D-Henrico, asked in a floor speech. "Because it's government intrusion?" He said the decision is already between the doctor and patient. The mandate has an opt-out provision.
Del. Kathy J. Byron, R-Campbell, sponsor of House Bill 1112, argued that the decision to give the vaccination should be up to families.
Senate approves lifting ban on Sunday hunting
The Virginia Senate on Thursday approved legislation lifting a ban on Sunday hunting.
The vote was 29-11 in favor of Senate Bill 464, sponsored by Sen. Ralph S. Northam, D-Norfolk. The legislation allows Sunday hunting only on private land.
It now heads to the House of Delegates, where it is expected to face stiffer opposition.
Panel backs repeal of abortion funding measure
A House of Delegates subcommittee on Thursday advanced legislation to repeal a requirement that the state fund abortions for women in need of financial assistance when a doctor believes the fetus would be born "with a gross and totally incapacitating physical deformity or mental deficiency."
On a 4-1 party line vote with Del. Algie T. Howell Jr., D-Norfolk, dissenting, a House Health, Welfare and Institutions subcommittee recommended reporting out House Bill 65, sponsored by Del. Mark L. Cole, R-Spotsylvania.
Bill would bar 'mental retardation,' other terms
A bill to replace the terms "mental retardation," "mentally retarded," "mentally deficient," "mentally defective" and others in the state code is likely to clear the House of Delegates today after debate Thursday.
Those terms would be replaced with "intellectual deficiency" and "individual with intellectual disability" among others under House Bill 552, sponsored by Del. T. Scott Garrett, R-Lynchburg.
The aim is to update the code with terminology deemed less offensive.
Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said he would vote for the bill, but voted against it previously to make a point. "We cannot legislate people being nice to each other," he said.
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