Bills to watch in Virginia's 2025 General Assembly session
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The General Assembly is back on Monday for the last session before Virginians elect a new governor and all 100 seats of the House of Delegates are up for grabs.
Why it matters: It could test Gov. Youngkin's legacy, since he can't run for a consecutive term, and define what each party sees as its priorities heading into a contentious election year.
Flashback: The scheduled start of this year's legislative session last week was delayed because of Richmond's water crisis.
State of play: Major issues have already emerged, like Youngkin wanting to remove the local car tax and exempt tips from the state income tax.
- Democrats, who've kept their slight majority, will aim to start the constitutional amendment process to guarantee abortion access and immediate voting rights restoration for people with felony convictions who served their sentences.
- And there's an ambitious proposal to ban large investment firms from buying single-family homes that could gain bipartisan support.
Here are other issues we're watching.
Abortion
A bill shielding abortion providers from extradition to other states where abortion is illegal. (Youngkin vetoed a similar one last year).
Drones
A Democrat wants to make it a Class 4 felony to knowingly enter "the property of a contracted defense facility" with a drone to get footage.
Education
Democrats will try to delay a new school accountability system that would label the majority of schools as "off track" or "needs intensive support," per RTD.
Health
This Democratic bill would require health insurance companies to cover birth control without a copayment (it was vetoed last year).
A Republican proposed that if a person gives someone a controlled substance like fentanyl and that person dies, the person could be found guilty of felony homicide.
Housing
Democrats are trying to make Virginia's eviction diversion pilot program permanent and widen the grace period for missed rent payments from five days to 14.
Republicans want to ban rate increases for some public utilities during November, December, January or February and allow localities to designate residential areas for specifically affordable housing.
Immigration
Republicans will attempt to ban so-called "sanctuary cities." Former Gov. Ralph Northam vetoed a similar bill in 2018 when Republicans controlled the legislature.
LGBTQ+
There are Republican proposals to ban transgender girls from girls' sports teams in K-12 schools and gender-affirming surgeries for Virginians under the age of 18.
Minimum wage
This Democratic bill would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027 (Youngkin vetoed a similar bill last year).
Plastic bags
Richmond Del. Mike Jones proposed banning grocery stores from selling or distributing plastic bags after Jan. 1, 2027.
Studies
Democrats want government watchdog JLARC to study the removal of books from public school libraries and Virginia's campaign finance system.
Taxes
An attempt to remove tax breaks for the Richmond-based United Daughters of the Confederacy is back (it was vetoed last year).
Voting
Some Republicans want to limit the early voting period to 10 days before an election instead of 45 and repeal same-day voting.
Weed
Democrats plan to revive their vetoed push for a legal retail weed market, with sales starting in May 2026.
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