GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 81, which abolishes the common-law crime of suicide. 

Over a century ago, the Commonwealth abolished criminal penalties for suicide. In recent years, the Commonwealth has made significant improvements in mental health, including decriminalizing the effects of mental health conditions, and increasing resources for those in crisis. 

Accordingly, I veto this bill.