Virginia approves strong conscience protections for child-placing agencies

Virginia approves strong conscience protections for child-placing agencies

Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed into law legislation that provides strong, explicit conscience protections for adoption and foster care agencies, ensuring those agencies cannot be forced to violate their beliefs or punished for following them when placing children. Patroned by Senator Jeffrey McWaters (R – Virginia Beach) and Delegate Todd Gilbert (R – Woodstock), the legislation passed the Virginia General Assembly after receiving the approval of 93 of the Commonwealth’s 140 legislators.