Virginia is set to become the first state in the nation to put abortion clinics under the same standards and rules as hospitals.

The Virginia General Assembly approved legislation Thursday that would require stricter regulations and government oversight for abortion clinics.

By categorizing the facilities as hospitals, abortion clinics would also be more expensive to operate, which could force some clinics to shut down.

Pro-life groups are calling Thursday's vote a major victory.

"We are talking about inspections, we are talking about licensing, we are talking about making sure they have life resuscitation equipment," Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation, said.

"Some of the things we think are pretty critical when you are doing invasive surgery," she continued. "The reality is, as we've seen in recent news around the country, there are clinics around the country operating in horrific conditions, and I think they know that could be the reality here in Virginia."

Currently, Virginia's 21 abortions clinics are regulated like doctors office's. The bill now goes to Gov. Bob McDonnell, whose spokesman said he would sign the bill.