While most Virginia laws take effect in July, a few kicked in January 1.
One law passed last week by Virginia lawmakers was seen as a big win for abortion opponents.
Things have gotten a little tougher for abortion clinics in the state.
In the last legislative session, the Republican majority passed a law that said abortion clinics needed to meet the same architectural standards as emergency care facilities.
We spoke with the Planned Parenthood clinic on Peters Creek Road to see if the law would impact them despite their facility being relatively new.
"These regulations are the most onerous in terms of architectural changes that would be required of us in terms of widening the doors 5 feet, for us is an additional 3 inches and changing the heating and ventilation system so its really just a lot of work that we need to do," Planned Parenthood Field Coordinator Tanya Semones said.
Now while widening a few doorways and changing a few ventilation systems doesn't sound like much, folks at Planned Parenthood are still assessing the building and the law to see if there's more they need to do.
People we spoke with at Planned Parenthood say this law was a sneaky political move by Republicans to make first trimester abortions more difficult.
But abortion facilities in the state have two years to make the changes.
However, considering all the money needed for these renovations it means some clinics may close.
One law passed last week by Virginia lawmakers was seen as a big win for abortion opponents.
Things have gotten a little tougher for abortion clinics in the state.
In the last legislative session, the Republican majority passed a law that said abortion clinics needed to meet the same architectural standards as emergency care facilities.
We spoke with the Planned Parenthood clinic on Peters Creek Road to see if the law would impact them despite their facility being relatively new.
"These regulations are the most onerous in terms of architectural changes that would be required of us in terms of widening the doors 5 feet, for us is an additional 3 inches and changing the heating and ventilation system so its really just a lot of work that we need to do," Planned Parenthood Field Coordinator Tanya Semones said.
Now while widening a few doorways and changing a few ventilation systems doesn't sound like much, folks at Planned Parenthood are still assessing the building and the law to see if there's more they need to do.
People we spoke with at Planned Parenthood say this law was a sneaky political move by Republicans to make first trimester abortions more difficult.
But abortion facilities in the state have two years to make the changes.
However, considering all the money needed for these renovations it means some clinics may close.
