Democratic lawmakers in Virginia are targeting abortion restrictions established by Republicans over the last decade, pushing forward legislation that seeks to roll back those restrictions and expand access to the procedure in the state.

Democrats, who now control both legislative chambers and the governor's mansion for the first time in nearly three decades, expect to be able to strike numerous abortion restrictions, including the requirement for an ultrasound and a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can have the procedure.

Lawmakers in both the House of Delegates and state Senate have advanced parallel bills that would allow nurses and physician's assistants to perform abortions (currently, only physicians can perform abortions in Virginia). The legislation also would remove a mandate that clinics performing more than a few abortions per month meet hospital standards for their facilities.

The bill passed a first read in both chambers Friday and will likely pass second and third reads, and a vote, this week.