Pre-General Assembly 2026 Session Roundup

The Virginia General Assembly convenes January 14, 2026. In addition to passing four constitutional amendments on day one, Virginia legislators and Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger have identified their top legislative priorities for the next session. Here are the main ones they’ll focus on.

Affordability and Housing

Voters cited rising living expenses as their “top concern during the 2025 elections.” Governor-elect Spanberger said, “affordability is ‘essential’ to Virginia’s economic competitiveness.” She has vowed to sign legislation that would “increase Virginia’s minimum wage to $15/hr in 2028.”

Spanberger’s other plans include “re-establishing an Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing and strengthening tenant protections to prevent evictions.” Delegate Callsen’s Warranty of Habitability bill will strengthen protections for tenants.

Affordability is Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg’s (D SD16) “top priority this session,” stating, “Affordability with housing and energy. Trying to lower the cost by increasing the supply, so I’ll have a bunch of housing and energy supply bills this year.”

With the average home price in Western Henrico being $400,000, Senator VanValkenburg is advocating  for a “statewide pro-housing policy” to boosting housing supply in Henrico County and beyond. Strategies include zoning changes, permitting changes, and federal investments in housing construction.

Related: Henrico Rezoning: Balancing Housing Needs and Local Concerns; Henrico Supervisor Misty Roundtree Weighs In On Virginia Housing Crisis; Fixing Henrico County’s housing crisis

Education

“Abigail’s Strengthening Virginia Schools Plan” outlines Spanberger’s strategies to strengthen Virginia schools.

To address “partisanship in higher education governance,” one of Spanberger’s “proposals would empower the Commission on Higher Education Board Appointments to recommend qualified and nonpartisan “mission-driven individuals” for board service, aimed at preventing future governors “from using our colleges and universities as political pawns.”” (via The Cavalier Daily)

May Nivar (D HD57) will also focus on education: “I’m very passionate about career technical education. We need to really bring back trades. Blue collar jobs are very stable and secure and make good money.”

Delegate Katrina Callsen’s (D HD54) “priorities include ensuring Virginia schools are adequately funded and raising the standards of schools to ensure that students are prepared for higher education or the workforce.”

Given Virginia’s immigrant population, there’s also a need to increase funding and resources for English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. Delegate Jessica Anderson (D HD71) said, “State legislators must work to incentivize recruitment by raising ESL teacher salaries and eliminating unnecessary red tape when it comes to the certification process.”

And Senator Danica Roem (D D30) sponsored legislation for a free, universal breakfast program.

Redistricting amendment

We previously shared the news that Democrats presented a “redistricting amendment to counter GOP map changes in other states.” The amendment allows Virginia to make map changes until 2030, and the GA passed it on 1/29/25.

Next step: the GA votes on this amendment resolution a second time during the next session, which begins January 14. Then the referendum would be presented to voters in a special election.

Currently, “Democrats push forward with 2026 redistricting efforts in Virginia.” Governor-elect Spanberger indicated she supports Democrats’ efforts to keep the amendment option alive. “Here’s what it will take to redraw Virginia’s congressional maps before the midterms.”

In a conversation with the UVA Center for Politics, Speaker Don Scott (D D88) said, “We’re working with some map drawers” and the process will involve “community engagement” to keep voters in the loop given that Congressional candidates are collecting petition signatures and Virginians have questions about who their representatives will be with new maps in place. “We have a lot of options in play.”

Related: VanValkenburg on Redistricting Resolution

In other election law areas, VanValkenburg looks to return Virginia to multistate voter data partnership as part of his focus on election law: “over the last four years we’ve had a lot of legislation vetoed by (Republican Governor) Glenn Youngkin on election law, so we’ll be bringing those back.”

Healthcare

Governor-elect Spanberger emphasized the need to reduce red tape to help Virginians access healthcare and “create scaffolding that allows for Medicaid coverage to continue” at time when “600,000 Virginians could lose Medicaid coverage and be subjected to new work requirements” because of H.R. 1.

She intends to sign legislation for paid family medical leave that Governor Youngkin vetoed. Read more about her multifaceted health care package.

House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D HD4) said it’s critical for the GA to lower prescription drug costs, reform the prior authorization processes, and expand healthcare access.

Via Virginia Scope, “Democrats are also pushing legislation sponsored by Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, D-Virginia Beach, that would require all private and government employers in Virginia to provide some form of paid sick leave system to employees.”

Energy

In an address to the Virginia Press Association, Governor-elect Spanberger shared that Virginia’s energy crisis is one of the “key challenges” facing legislators because of explosive data center growth. Given such concerns, Senator Danica Roem plans “to pitch sweeping data center crackdown in General Assembly.”

Some of the actions that Spanberger’s energy agenda calls for include

• “expanding programs to reduce heating and energy costs for low-income Virginians”
• “establishing a weatherization and energy efficiency task force within the Department of Housing and Community Development”
• exempting balcony-mounted panels from “typical utility approval requirements”
• “improving utility demand forecasting”

Spanberger is also considering revising the Virginia Clean Economy Act “to allow for an expansion of battery storage that allows for solar power to be dispatched hours after it is collected.” According to Spanberger, renewable energy is the most realistic, short-term solution for surging energy demands.

Additionally, “lawmakers will pursue expanded energy storage to help lower peak power prices by allowing stored energy to be used during periods of high demand.” (via Henrico Citizen)

The Henrico County General Assembly Delegation Pre-Session Legislative Town Hall

On 1/5, the Henrico County General Assembly Delegation Pre-Session Legislative Town Hall revealed the priorities of legislators who represent parts of Henrico County.

In attendance were Delegate May Nivar (D HD57), Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D S16), Delegate Delores McQuinn (D HD81), Senator Lamont Bagby (D S14), Delegate Destiny Levere Bolling (D HD80), Senator Lashrecse D. Aird (D S13), and Delegate Rodney Willett (D HD58).

The main legislative goals for the upcoming session include affordability, housing, consumer protection, energy, transportation, education, workforce support, healthcare, and environmental justice.

The representatives discussed their intent to improve the quality of life of Virginians, strengthen our neighborhoods, and “shore up” things that the federal government has cut. They discussed helping a wide cross-section of Virginians, such as supporting grandparents who are raising their grandchildren and helping disadvantaged youth through wraparound programs.

Oversight and regulation goals include ensuring fair standards across systems and making sure policies work in practice, not just in theory. Many of the representatives will revive bills that Governor Youngkin vetoed.