Vermont Senate approves abortion rights, anti-slavery amendments
Modified: 4/9/2021 10:08:04 PM
The Vermont Senate gave its final approval Friday to a proposal to amend the state constitution to protect a woman’s right to an abortion and other reproductive services.
The proposal, a declaration of the “right to personal reproductive liberty,” will now be sent to the Vermont House. If approved by the House, it will go before Vermont voters in a statewide referendum in November 2022.
The Senate also on Friday passed a separate proposed amendment to that would explicitly ban slavery in all forms in Vermont.
In a debate before the abortion proposal, Democratic state Sen. Ginny Lyons said the amendment was proposed because of concerns the U.S. Supreme Court could weaken a women’s right to an abortion.