Happy (almost) Valentine’s Day! I hope tomorrow brings a little extra love and comfort into your weekend. Every year, the General Assembly celebrates Love Day with sweets, flowers, and gifts—especially to show appreciation to our administrative assistants and staff! I was busy this morning with my House colleagues handing out candy and gifts to our Legislative Support Staff, Capitol Police, Clerk Staff, and Pages throughout the building.
I have also had the pleasure of welcoming constituents and advocacy groups into my office this week. With Crossover rapidly approaching, we have had to race against the clock to hear all public testimony, discuss bills thoroughly, and cast our votes before they hit the House floor.
I am especially excited to announce that this week, six of my bills (HB19, HB20, HB833, HB834, HB835, and HB837) all passed the House. That means that a grand total of nine of my bills have now passed the House. Each of these bills demonstrate my commitment to the people of Arlington and the Commonwealth, and my focus on protecting tenant rights, securing fair wages, ensuring public safety, and increasing sustainability.
Keep reading below for more updates!
Legislative Updates
On Monday, I started my week with two of my bills passing the House floor: HB834 and HB837. These two bills will now head to the Senate, where they have been referred to the Senate General Laws and Technology committee.
HB834 would require landlords to make a reasonable effort to meet with tenants whose units were damaged by fire or other casualty to determine the extent of the damage and whether there are alternatives to terminating the lease. I carried this bill during the 2024 General Assembly session, where it passed with bipartisan support, but was ultimately vetoed by the former Governor. I am proud to share that this bill passed through the House Floor on a vote of 68-30.
My other bill, HB837, would broaden the eligibility for the Eviction Diversion Program, lowering initial cost barriers and removing overly strict late-payment disqualifications. Courts would also be required to share information about the program with any tenants who may have been served an eviction notice. This bill passed through the House floor with a vote of 62-35.
On Monday afternoon, I presented HB82 to the Election Administration subcommittee of the Privileges and Elections Committee. HB82 would move the deadline for receiving absentee ballots and submitting identification for provisional ballots from noon to 5:00 p.m. on the third day after the election. Extending this deadline to align with normal business hours would make voting more accessible for working voters. I am proud to share that it was reported out and heads to the House floor next week.
It was recommended to be reported on a vote of 6-2.
Thursday was another successful day! Three of my bills passed the House and now head to the Senate: HB19, HB20, and HB835.
HB19 would close the deadly “dating partner loophole” in our gun laws and protect survivors of domestic violence from known convicted abusers. This bill passed the House floor 61-35.
HB20 would finally provide our farmworkers with long overdue minimum wage protections. This bill passed the House floor on a vote of 62-35.
HB835 would provide elected officials and candidates the choice to protect their personal contact information from appearing on public facing documents unless otherwise consented. Our elected officials deserve to feel safe in the Commonwealth they serve. This bill passed the House floor 79-19.
Finally, on Friday morning, HB833 passed on the House Floor and now heads to the Senate. This bill would allow local governments the authority to require new commercial, industrial, and multi-family developments to include infrastructure for electric vehicle charging. This bill also directs Virginia to further study and report on grid needs for future EV charging in new residential developments. This bill passed the house floor on a vote of 60-34.
Committee Activities
It was yet another week full of final committee meetings before Crossover on Monday. My first committee meeting this week was in the Department of Motor Vehicles subcommittee of House Transportation. We took action on eight bills, including Delegate Lopez’s HB911, which would extend the validity of limited-duration licenses, driver privilege cards, permits, and identification cards to align with standard driver’s license durations. Review the full docket here.
On Tuesday afternoon, I chaired the last Subcommittee #5 of the House General Laws committee before Crossover, where we took action on one bill: HB1272, which would provide for the regulation and taxation of electronic gaming devices. There was a subcommittee substitute adopted to include strict regulation and consumer protections. Watch the full meeting here.
Also on Tuesday, I attended the Innovations (Ad Hoc) subcommittee of House Transportation for the second time this session. We took action on ten bills and ended up reporting six to the full Transportation committee. Review the full docket here.
On Thursday, I attended the Transportation committee meeting in the morning, followed by General Laws in the afternoon, where I shared my chairwoman’s report from Subcommittee #5. Watch my full report here.
Affordability Press Conference
On Tuesday, I had the privilege of speaking at the Affordable Virginia Press Conference, alongside Delegate Tran and Delegate Feggans. We discussed important legislation that would ensure affordable housing and tenant protections throughout the Commonwealth, including my bills HB834 and HB837, which passed the House earlier this week. Delegate Tran discussed her bill, HB1005, which would increase access by requiring landlords to accept multiple payment methods for rent and security deposits. Delegate Feggans, meanwhile, shared how his bill, HB174, would further protect our military tenants. You can watch clips from the press conference here.
I was so proud to support and vote for all of our affordable housing bills as a member of the General Laws Committee and the House. Affordable housing and tenant protections have been a focal point of my career, and I am ecstatic to see so much progress being made on this issue.
Adele in the News
The Virginia Mercury featured an article focused on the Affordable Virginia Press Conference, highlighting my bills HB834 and HB837. Rising housing costs and retaliatory practices from landlords impact tenants across the Commonwealth, myself included. The lack of affordable housing makes it incredibly difficult for Virginians to remain in their communities, especially in my district of Arlington. Virginians deserve security, protections, and relief from the rising costs of housing. It is a great honor to serve on the Virginia Housing Commission and I am thankful to contribute to the progress made towards a more affordable Virginia.
Happenings in the Second District
“Caring For Adults With Intellectual Disabilities” Extra Mile Event
Leaders from L’Arche will share the importance of building connections that create meaningful relationships for everyone–something we all need. This seminar will include a screening of the short film “On Loneliness.” The seminar is part of a free community engagement series open to the public, to draw attention to the issues being addressed by beneficiaries of the Arlington Turkey Trot.
When: Sunday, February 15th, 12:45-2:00 p.m.
Where: 1815 N Quincy Street
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Conservationists of Color Open Mic Night
Join the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust for an event uplifting the voices of conservationists of diverse backgrounds! You’ll be able to read and listen to passages by and about those who have dedicated their lives to safeguarding nature.
When: Sunday, February 15th, 5-7 p.m.
Where: Busboy and Poets, 4251 Campbell Avenue
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Avoiding Scams with Arlington County Police Department
Join the Arlington County Police Department Community Engagement Division for a vital community session on recognizing and avoiding the latest scams. Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones with practical tips.
When: Tuesday, February 17th, 1-2 p.m.
Where: Courthouse Library, 2100 Clarendon Blvd
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Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington
Memorializing the Enslaved of Arlington (MEA) leaders, Jessica Kaplan (Arlington Historical Society) and Scott Taylor (Director of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington) will discuss the project, its goals, history, successes, and challenges. MEA is a project sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society and the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington and brings our county’s African American history to light.
When: Tuesday, February 17th, 7-8:30 p.m.
Where: Woman’s Club of Arlington, 700 S. Buchanan St
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Climate Action in Arlington
Join EcoAction Arlington for Climate Action in Arlington: Looking Ahead for 2026, a free, virtual webinar on Wednesday, February 18 with Jennifer Fioretti, Assistant County Manager for Climate Policy and Jason Papcosma, Division Chief, Sustainability and Environmental Management. Hear about exciting programs Arlington has underway to address the climate crisis and make Arlington a more sustainable, equitable, and healthier place to live and work. Learn how you can benefit from Arlington’s programs to save energy and money, compost your food and more.
When: Wednesday, February 18, 7-8:30 p.m.
Where: Register for the Zoom link here
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Rosslyn Lunar New Year Celebration
Ring in the Year of the Horse with the Rosslyn BID at our 2026 Lunar New Year event. Come join us at Central Place Plaza for a free, family-friendly celebration featuring vibrant traditions, live Lion Dance, and festive fun!
When: Thursday, February 19, 5-7 p.m.
Where: Central Place Plaza, 1800 N Lynn Street
Important Immigration Resources
If you or your loved ones are in need of legal resources or assistance in matters involving ICE and immigration, the Legal Aid Justice Center hosts free immigration legal consultations, on the first Wednesday of each month, at the Arlington Mill Community Center. This is strictly for Arlington residents. To schedule an appointment for general family preparedness planning, please call 703-778-3450. Appointments are not required for general immigration consultations and walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis.
When: First Wednesday of each month
Where: Arlington Mill Community Center, 909 S Dinwiddie St, Floor 5, Arlington, VA, 22204.
If you believe your loved ones have been arrested or detained by ICE, please contact the PoderVA hotline. PoderVA is a rapid response defense network that may be used to report and track ICE activity, provide resources and know-your-rights information, and connect families to reliable legal support. The PoderVA Hotline number is 1-844-253-7882.
Remembering Judge William Newman Jr.
Earlier this week, the Honorable Judge William Newman Jr. sadly passed away. He was an Arlingtonian and a historic trailblazer; a man who broke barriers and widened the path for others. Judge Newman served our community with integrity, courage, and distinction, and in doing so, reshaped what leadership looked like here in Arlington and across the Commonwealth.
I would not be where I am today were it not for what Judge Newman did in 1987 and in the years that followed, and I will always remember him for making space for those who came after him.
May we honor his life and legacy not only with our words, but with our actions. I am sending his family and friends my deepest condolences, and I will always proudly share his memory.
As Crossover nears, we remain hard at work in Richmond. As the session continues, I welcome your ideas, concerns, and questions. Please email my office in Richmond at [email protected], or give us a call at (804) 698-1002. I look forward to hearing from you!
With love,
Delegate Adele McClure, HD-2
