Current Status
The Virginia Medical Aid in Dying Act, HB 1649, was heard in the House of Delegates Committee for the Courts of Justice. The bill was “continued to 2021” by a voice vote in February 2020, then left at the Courts of Justice on December 4, 2020. The bill sits on a list of “failed legislation” with the House Courts of Justice in the 2021 session.
Resources
Virginia General Assembly website
Death with Dignity Legislative Tracker
History
2020
HB 1649
- Introduced on January 16, 2020
- Sponsor: Virginia State Delegate Kaye Kory (D-38)
- Full text of HB 1649, the Virginia Medical Aid in Dying Act
- Legislative history of HB 1649
- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- Heard on February 7, 2020
- Left at the Courts of Justice on December 4, 2020
2019
Virginia State Delegate Kaye Kory (D-38) introduced HB 2713, the Virginia Death with Dignity Act, on January 14, 2019. The bill failed to meet a legislative committee deadline and did not advance.
This was the first time in history an aid in dying bill was considered in the Virginia state legislature.
2018
The Virginia Joint Commission on Healthcare in September 2018 published a report: “Medical Aid in Dying: A Final Report” [pdf]. On November 7, 2018, following a period of public comment, the Commission voted 10 to 6 to take no further action.
