New Virginia Laws Take Effect: What Families Need to Know Now
While we continue to celebrate the recent victories for parental rights and religious freedom at the Supreme Court, it’s important to remember that many of the bills passed by the 2025 Virginia General Assembly officially took effect yesterday, July 1. These new laws will impact families across the Commonwealth, for better or worse.
One of the biggest wins taking effect today is the new law strengthening parental access to a minor child’s online medical records. Thanks to HB 1593 (R-Kent) and SB 846 (R-Craig), parents will now have clearer rights to view their child’s medical information online, reinforcing that parents, not the state, are the primary stewards of their children’s health. This important step for parental rights comes alongside the recent court ruling striking down Virginia’s ban on “conversion therapy,” another huge victory that protects the right of parents, children, and counselors to seek the help they choose without government interference.
There were also additional measures taking effect today that impact parental involvement:
Timely notification for school overdoses — SB 1240 (R-Sturtevant) and HB 2774 (D-Singh) require that parents be notified within 24 hours if their child overdoses at school. While the final law didn’t include the strongest language applying equally to private schools and eliminating unnecessary hurdles, it’s still a step toward transparency and ensuring parents aren’t left in the dark during medical crises.
Unfortunately, despite strong efforts by pro-family legislators and advocates like you, several troubling laws will also go into effect today:
Treating human embryo banking and fertility treatments as “essential health benefits” — HB 1609 (D-Helmer) mandates insurance coverage for costly fertility treatments, treating the creation (and often destruction) of human embryos as just another routine health service. This continues to cheapen human life and embed morally questionable practices into our health care system.
Blocking investigations of illegal abortion drug sales — SB 754 (D-Favola) prohibits the sale or sharing of reproductive health data in ways that could assist investigations into illegal online distribution of abortion-causing drugs, creating serious obstacles for law enforcement trying to stop dangerous, unregulated abortion pill networks.
Telehealth mental health sessions at school without clear parental involvement — HB 1945 (D-Reeser) allows students to access telehealth services, including mental health therapy, while at school, but fails to guarantee that parents can be present. This undermines the family’s central role in a child’s emotional and mental well-being.
To view the complete list of new laws click here!
As always, your engagement is crucial. Without Virginians like you standing up, contacting legislators, and supporting our work, these few bright spots would be even fewer.
We’ll continue to keep you informed as these laws take shape across Virginia — and remain steadfast in our mission to protect life, strengthen families, and defend your religious freedom.
