RICHMOND
Virginia women seeking an abortion may soon be required to undergo an ultrasound first.
The Virginia Senate approved the requirement Wednesday on a 21-18 vote mainly along party lines. It is the first significant anti-abortion measure to pass the Senate since Republicans took effective control of the chamber following the fall elections; more are pending.
Two Democratic senators, Charles Colgan of Prince William County and Phillip Puckett of Russell County, voted in favor of it, while Republican Sen. John Watkins of Powhatan County opposed it.
The bill from Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel would make women seeking abortions get an ultrasound, give them a chance to view the image, and require providers to keep a copy of it on file.
