From the Virginia NAACP:
Virginia NAACP Announces Its 2025 Legislative Priorities
Richmond, Virginia – Today, the NAACP Virginia State Conference (Virginia NAACP) announced its 2025 Legislative Priorities for the Virginia General Assembly 2025 regular session.
Virginia NAACP President Rev. Cozy Bailey shared the following statement about the legislative agenda:
“The Virginia NAACP will tackle issues that impact the Black community, including economic opportunity, education, and criminal justice reform, just to name a few. Our work continues to ensure civil rights and social justice for all. Virginia cannot truly progress until all Virginians have equal and equitable access, and this can only be done by keeping Black people at the top of every agenda. We will continue to push for policy that enhances the lives of Black Virginians.”
During today’s virtual press conference, Rev. Bailey was joined by Virginia NAACP Region 1 Vice President and Political Action Chair Gaylene Kanoyton, Environmental Climate Justice Chair Karen Campblin, Housing Chair Tracey Hardney-Scott, Criminal Justice Chair Valerie Slater, Esq, and Quena Dailey, Legislative Coordinator, to discuss legislation the Virginia NAACP would support and oppose in the state legislature.
Virginia NAACP Political Action Chair Gaylene Kanoyton stated:
“Our agenda is centered on advancing equity and justice for all Virginians. We look forward to working together to create a more inclusive future. The Virginia NAACP remains committed to advancing justice and equity across all sectors, ensuring that the voices of marginalized communities are heard and prioritized in the legislative process.”
The Virginia NAACP will prioritize the constitutional amendments for the automatic Restoration of Rights, safeguarding reproductive freedom, and marriage equality. The Virginia NAACP will follow legislation that protects student rights and freedom of speech on college campuses, equity in public education, justice reform, and the priority areas below. We will continue to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives will not be diluted in Virginia.
The Virginia NAACP legislative priorities can be found here.
The press can download a copy of the press conference here.
Education The Virginia NAACP will continue to advocate for the highest standards of learning, safety, and equity in Virginia’s public schools. We will also prioritize student rights and freedom of speech on college and university campuses.
Environmental and Climate Justice The Virginia NAACP will continue to advocate for and provide research tools, educational materials, and strategies in adherence to the program directives of the NAACP Center for Environmental Climate Justice to support policies and programs in the Commonwealth that will lead to clean car standards and zero emissions, the elimination of climate racism, ensure corporate responsibility and accountability, and a just transition to a clean energy economy for black and all communities and workers.
Community building priorities will include policies that support healthy communities, clean air, land, and water, transit equity, food justice, climate adaptation, energy fairness and affordability, and emergency management.
Healthcare The Virginia NAACP will advocate for legislation that will result in the elimination of the racial and ethnic inequities that exist within our healthcare system that undermine communities of color, their life opportunities, and their ability to contribute fully to the common good.
Housing The Virginia NAACP will support bills that promote housing stability, affordability, and anti-discrimination.
Race and Justice The Virginia NAACP will advocate for smarter, results-based criminal justice policies to keep our communities safe. We also support legislation that eliminates racially disparate and unjust treatment of Black youth and other overrepresented youth in the juvenile justice system. We advocate for justice reforms that eliminate negative collateral consequences contributing to intergenerational cycles of justice system involvement and problematic outcomes in our communities. The Virginia NAACP will advocate to strengthen current gun safety laws and introduce new ideas, we must enhance Virginia’s red flag laws by broadening community involvement in reporting at-risk individuals and implementing stricter safe storage requirements to prevent unauthorized access to firearms. Expanding gun-free zones to include more public spaces, introducing mandatory waiting periods for all firearm purchases, and increasing penalties for gun trafficking will also be key. Furthermore, investing in community-based violence prevention programs and bolstering mental health services connected to gun ownership can help address the root causes of gun violence and prevent future tragedies.
Workforce, Labor and Economic Empowerment The Virginia NAACP will advocate for policies and legislation that enhance the capacity of Black Virginians and other underserved groups through financial and economic education, individual and community asset-building initiatives, providing safe and affordable housing, job training, and a “livable wage”.
We promote diversity and inclusion in business hiring, fair unionizing practices, inclusive state and federal procurement policies, and monitoring the financial distribution practices of the once-in-a-generation funding provided to states by the federal government. We require that reports be provided to demonstrate the funds are meeting the “equitable distribution” requirements. Lastly, we propose a tax credit for businesses that hire locally to help Virginia reduce its carbon footprint.
Voting Rights and Political Representation The Virginia NAACP will advocate for enhancements that will increase voter access in Virginia.
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ABOUT THE VIRGINIA NAACP
Founded in 1935, the NAACP Virginia State Conference (Virginia NAACP) is the oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization in the Commonwealth, overseeing over 100 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters. The Virginia NAACP is focused on being the preeminent voice of Black Virginians and advocating for policies and programs to benefit Black Virginians and people of color. You can read more about the Virginia NAACP’s work by visiting NAACPVA.org.
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