Today is the first day of the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session. See below for updates, including the Virginia House Democrats releasing their “Affordable, Secure, Resilient Virginia” agenda (and also the VA Senate Dems’ Eight Point Affordability Agenda).
UPDATE 12:18 pm – Don Scott sworn in again as Speaker
UPDATE 12:10 pm – Del. Kathy Tran now nominating Don Scott to be reelected as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.
UPDATE 12:05 pm – Members of the House of Delegates are sworn in.
Winsome Earle-Sears is still Lt. Governor until Saturday, so continues to preside over the State Senate until then, at which point Ghazala Hashmi will (thankfully!) be sworn in as the next Lt. Governor.
“Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger stopped by our caucus meeting to chat and gear up for the 2026 legislative session. We’re energized and ready to deliver with a Democratic trifecta. The Virginia Senate is officially in session!”
| Virginia House Democrats Release “Affordable, Secure, Resilient Virginia” Agenda |
| RICHMOND, VA —Today, Virginia House Democrats unveiled their 2026 legislative agenda, Affordable, Secure, Resilient Virginia, outlining a comprehensive plan to lower costs for families, protect public safety and fundamental freedoms, and strengthen the Commonwealth against economic and political uncertainty.
The agenda was released at a press conference in the House Briefing Room featuring Speaker Don Scott, House Democratic Leader Charniele Herring, and Caucus Chair Kathy Tran. Speaker Scott framed the agenda as a mandate-driven plan rooted in responsibility and results. “Virginians delivered the largest Democratic majority in decades not so we could pat ourselves on the back, but because they sent us to do a job,” said Speaker Scott. “That job is simple: lower costs, protect people’s freedoms, and build a Commonwealth that is prepared for whatever comes next.” An Affordable Virginia House Democrats emphasized that affordability is the caucus’s top priority, pointing to rising costs facing families across the Commonwealth — from housing and child care to groceries, utilities, and insurance. Chair Tran highlighted the caucus’s focus on real, tangible cost relief. “When Virginians talk about affordability, they’re not talking about politics — they’re talking about their lives,” said Tran. “Housing is up. Child care is up. Groceries, utilities, and insurance are up. That’s the reality families are facing, and that’s why an Affordable Virginia is our first priority this session.” Key legislation includes efforts to preserve affordable housing, expand homeownership opportunities for local workers, protect access to contraception, expand paid sick leave, lower prescription drug costs, reduce utility bills through energy efficiency, and expand child care tax credits and subsidies. A Secure Virginia Leader Herring outlined the caucus’s commitment to public safety and fundamental freedoms, emphasizing that security means both safety and liberty. “A Secure Virginia is one that protects people and protects rights,” said Herring. “That’s why we are advancing common-sense gun safety, investing in community safety, and taking the final step to let voters decide on protecting reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and restoring voting rights.” The agenda includes legislation to address gun violence, protect survivors of domestic violence, improve school and community safety, and advance constitutional amendments on reproductive rights, marriage equality, and restoration of rights. A Resilient Virginia House Democrats also emphasized resilience — preparing Virginia to withstand economic shocks, federal instability, and threats to democracy. “Washington is unpredictable,” Herring said. “But here in Virginia, we are building a Commonwealth that can withstand any challenge — whether it comes from job cuts, attacks on voting rights, or policies that raise costs for working families.” The caucus’s resilience agenda includes protecting fair elections and access to the ballot, investing in mental health care, strengthening public education, supporting agricultural and workforce mental health, and building a future-ready economy. Speaker Scott closed by framing the moment as one of direction and leadership. “This is a new era for Virginia — an era defined not by chaos, but by competence,” Scott said. “Affordable. Secure. Resilient. That’s the Virginia we are going to build.” |
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