There were tears, yells and a call of “out of order” but by the end of the day Virginia’s Senate on Tuesday passed three resolutions aimed at enshrining certain civil rights into the state’s constitution.

The Virginia House of Delegates passed resolutions on Tuesday enshrining rights to abortion, voting and marriage equality in a critical step for Democrats hoping to amend the state's constitution next year.

In Virginia, Democrats pushed forward resolutions in the House of Delegates aimed at getting measures on abortion, marriage, and felon voting on the ballot in 2026. Democrats, who hold a narrow 51-49 majority in the state House,

Virginia Democrats are hoping to pass a bill to make abortion more accessible in the third trimester under specific situations.

The resolution has a long way to go before it can become part of the state's constitution. However, House Republicans said it already violates state law.

The Virginia House of Delegates passed three state constitutional amendments Tuesday that would enshrine in state law reproductive rights, same-sex marriage and automatic restoration of voting

The amendment would ensure a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom,” protecting abortion in the first two trimesters and in the third trimester with some restrictions.

The House also backed proposed amendments on restoration of rights for felons who have served their time and to remove moot language barring same-sex marriage.

New legislative agendas at the state level aim to chip away at reproductive rights, even in states that recently passed constitutional protections for abortion. On this episode of Us & Them, Host Trey Kay examines how conservative state supreme courts might limit voter-approved amendments — and how abortion-friendly states are pushing back.

The Virginia Senate passed an abortion constitutional amendment on a party line 21-19 vote. Stafford Senator Tara Durant criticized Democrats for refusing to add language that would require parental consent for minors. A constitutional amendment must pass two sessions of the General Assembly before going to the voters.

Members of the General Assembly are moving forward with three constitutional amendments proposed by Democrats.But they rejected an amendment supported by Republicans.