RICHMOND, VA — During today’s reconvene session, Democrats in the Senate attempted to override Governor Glenn Youngkin’s veto of legislation that would have created Virginia’s first paid family and medical leave program.

Not a single Republican joined them in the attempt, so the 21-19 Senate vote fell short of the two-thirds majority required to successfully override a veto.

Senate Bill 373, championed by Senator Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax) and Delegate Briana Sewell (D-Prince William), would have helped ensure Virginia workers would not have to choose between keeping their paycheck and caring for a family member with a serious illness or injury, their own medical needs, or welcoming a baby.

The bill would have created a state-administered insurance program allowing covered employees to receive up to eight weeks of paid time off for personal or family health needs. The popular policy is supported by 84% of registered voters in Virginia and addresses a critical gap affecting 78% of Virginia workers.

“A super-majority of Virginians want paid family and medical leave, so it’s disappointing we could not get a super-majority of legislators to override this veto,” said Freedom Virginia Executive Director Rhena Hicks.  “As a mom, I know exactly what this program would mean to hardworking families. We want peace of mind. We want the assurance that we won’t have to choose between keeping our paychecks and caring for a loved one in an emergency. Governor Youngkin cannot claim to care about parents and then tell us that we don’t deserve to keep our paychecks if disaster strikes our families. We applaud the Democratic legislators who tried to override this veto, and we look forward to coming back and fighting for this bill again next year.”