Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has vetoed a bill that would have prevented insurance companies from discriminating against people taking PrEP, the HIV prevention medication. The bill, H.B. 2769, explicitly stated that insurers could not refuse coverage, limit policies, or charge higher rates solely because someone takes PrEP. The measure passed both chambers of Virginia’s Democratic-led General Assembly—with a 24-15 vote in the Senate and 53-44 in the House. Youngkin’s veto was part of what the Virginia Mercury called a
“veto storm to drown progressive legislation.”
In total, he rejected 157 bills, including one that would have raised the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour and another aimed at increasing voter turnout. His education policies have been accused of targeting trans students by enforcing forced misgendering, outing policies, and allowing peers to opt out of gender-inclusive spaces. Youngkin stated in 2021 that he did not support same-sex marriage, but later, he signed a bill in 2024 codifying it in Virginia law. His veto of H.B. 2769, however, raises concerns about continued barriers to HIV prevention and LGBTQ healthcare protections.
