Va. Democrats roll out agenda in first session under trifecta

• The bills filed this week focus on affordability and flex the Democrats' first total hold on state government since 2021.

Zoom in: These are the bills introduced by both chambers this week:

💸 Raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2028 (if passed, it'd jump to $13.77 in Jan. 2027 and $15 in Jan. 2028).

😷 Requiring paid sick leave be provided by all Virginia employers (one hour of leave for every 30 worked).

👶 Establishing the right to birth control.

🏚️ Creating a task force to identify barriers that keep low-income households from using existing energy efficiency or weatherization programs.

Just the Senate:

🚌 Requiring every public school in Virginia to use federal programs to provide free school breakfast to kids who want it.

🧒🏻 Establishing a program that incentivizes employers to pay for childcare.

Just the House:

🔥 Lowering heating costs for low-income Virginians by requiring that energy providers, like Dominion, make energy-efficient upgrades to qualifying homes.

🏘️ Preserving affordable housing by giving localities the first right of refusal if the owners of qualified properties decide to sell.

Of note: Many of these bills (minimum wage, birth control access, paid sick leave) passed the General Assembly last year but were vetoed by Gov. Youngkin.

Zoom out: House Dems also said they plan to move forward with their redistricting push.

• Meanwhile, both chambers say they're once again planning to pass amendments to the state constitution, which they need to do once more in 2026 before the amendments head to voters in November.
• Those would: guarantee abortion access and marriage equality as well as immediately restore voting rights to people with felony convictions who served their sentences.

What's next: The 2026 session convenes in Richmond in January.