We just wrapped up the seventh week of session!
I am particularly excited to announce that this week, two of my bills (HB330 and HB1405) have passed the Senate! These bills will now be sent to Governor Spanberger’s desk for review. Each of these bills demonstrate my commitment to the people of Arlington and the Commonwealth by strengthening public safety, promoting civic engagement, investing in transportation, supporting Arlington tourism and businesses, and working towards a more affordable Virginia.
I have had a busy week presenting bills before the Senate, meeting with constituents and advocacy groups, and attending committee meetings. Keep reading below for more updates!
Legislative Updates
I started my week with HB20 reporting out of the Senate Commerce and Labor committee. This bill would finally provide our farmworkers with long overdue minimum wage protections. I am proud to share that this bill was reported with a vote of 9-6 and now heads to the Senate floor for a final vote. The version of this bill that originated in the Senate, SB121, which is carried by Senator Carroll-Foy, has also been reported out of the House Labor and Commerce committee and is heading to the House floor.
A historic first: The Virginia Farm Bureau and Virginia Agribusiness Council now both support this bill to ensure farmworkers are protected by the Virginia Minimum Wage Act!
And then on Tuesday, the first of my bills passed through the Senate floor: HB330 and HB1405.
HB330 would allow locally approved advertisements to appear on WMATA-owned property, which will create revenue opportunities for the WMATA to support their operations and service improvement efforts. Supporting public transportation is vital, especially in Arlington, which has access to the most metro stops of any House district. This bill passed the Senate unanimously.
HB1405 would allow the Department of Social Services to establish a burial assistance program and begin issuing regulations to allow local social services departments to pay reasonable funeral expenses for a deceased person who may be eligible for the program. No one should have to go into debt over the loss of a loved one, and I hope that this legislation will help alleviate the financial strain of these unexpected expenses and allow families to focus on grieving, not debt. This bill passed the Senate with a vote of 20-18.
On the House floor on Tuesday, I had the pleasure of presenting SB273, patroned by Senator Locke. Her bill is the cognate (identical bill) to my HB837. SB273/HB837 would broaden eligibility for the Eviction Diversion Program to allow more eligible tenants to participate. Watch my full floor presentation here.
Later Tuesday afternoon, I also presented HB838 to the Health subcommittee of the Senate Education and Health committee. HB838 would give the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) the authority to update the existing state plan to add in language from the bill I carried last year (HB1614) to include payments for doula services. This technical change ensures that those covered by Medicaid will have access to additional postpartum visits. This bill was reported from the full Senate Education and Health committee and now heads to Senate Finance and Appropriations.
Wednesday was a long and busy day presenting my bills. I had to figure out how to be in three places at once (which usually only happens on Thursdays)! I presented HB331 in the Senate Courts of Justice committee, which would prevent individuals from being convicted for simply having outstanding court fees. This bill was reported with a vote of 9-6 and now heads to the Senate Finance and Appropriations committee.
Two of my bills were also reported out of the Senate Finance and Appropriations committee and are heading to the Senate floor for a final vote: HB19 and HB524.
HB19 would close the deadly “dating partner” loophole that exists in current law, ensuring that no individual convicted of assault and battery against an intimate partner would be able to purchase, possess, or transport a firearm. This bill was reported with a vote of 10-5.
HB524, meanwhile, would allow Arlington County to adopt a Tourism Improvement District model to enhance the county’s ability to conduct destination marketing, promote hospitality, and increase tourism to our area. This bill was reported with a vote of 10-5.
Later on Wednesday evening, I presented four bills in the Housing subcommittee of the Senate General Laws and Technology committee: HB329, HB527, HB834, and HB837.
HB329 would strengthen protections for tenants facing landlord retaliation. I am proud to share that this bill was reported with unanimous support! It will now go to the full Senate General Laws and Technology committee before being heard on the Senate floor.
HB527 would expand and make permanent the Eviction Reduction Program to help prevent evictions, support housing stability, and identify barriers that lead to evictions. This bill was reported with a vote of 3-1, and now heads to the full Senate General Laws and Technology committee.
HB834 would require landlords to make a reasonable effort to meet with tenants whose units have been damaged by fire or other casualties, discuss the extent of the damage and determine whether there are reasonable alternatives to terminating the tenancy. This bill was reported with a vote of 4-1, and now heads to the full Senate General Laws and Technology committee.
HB837 would broaden the eligibility for the Eviction Diversion Program, lowering initial cost barriers and removing overly strict late-payment disqualifications. This bill was reported with a vote of 4-1, and now heads to the full Senate General Laws and Technology committee.
Committee Activities
This week was full of committee meetings! My first meeting this week was in the Department of Motor Vehicles subcommittee of House Transportation. We took action on six bills, including Senator Pekarsky’s SB309, which would add a requirement to drivers education to make students and parents aware of the Blue Envelope Program. The Blue Envelope Program is a voluntary initiative that provides drivers with autism spectrum disorder a discreet way to inform officers about the driver’s communication needs and contains important documents needed during a traffic stop. Review the full docket here.
Also on Tuesday, for the first time since Crossover, I chaired the first Procurement subcommittee of the House General Laws committee, where we took action on five bills. Watch the full meeting here.
Thursday was another full day. I attended the Transportation committee meeting in the morning, followed by General Laws in the afternoon, where I had the pleasure of sharing my Chairwoman’s report from the Procurement/Open Government subcommittee. Watch my report here.
Late on Thursday afternoon, I attended the Firearms subcommittee of the House Public Safety committee, where we acted on two bills: SB115 and SB643. Both ensure public safety for all Virginians by providing comparable concealed weapon reciprocity laws and age limits for the possession and purchase of certain firearms.
And early this morning, I served as the Vice Chair of the House Public Safety committee, where we took action on seventeen bills and ended up reporting fourteen to the House floor. Review the full docket here.
Happenings in the Second District
Upcoming Special Election
Remain politically engaged by casting your vote in the upcoming Special Election! This statewide special election is for a proposed constitutional amendment to decide whether the Constitution of Virginia should be amended to allow the General Assembly to adopt new congressional districts. To verify registration status, find your polling place, or apply to vote absentee, please visit the Virginia Department of Elections website here.
Registration Deadline: April 14th
Early Voting: March 6th, 2026 through April 18th
Deadline to request Mail Ballot: April 10th at 5:00 p.m.
Election Day Voting: Tuesday, April 21st (polls open 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
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Family Skate Night
Enjoy a family-friendly roller skating session at Thomas Jefferson Community Center. This event takes place every Saturday from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Pre-register for entry here.
When: Saturdays, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 S 2nd St, Arlington, VA 22204)
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Virginia Democrats – Arlington March Committee Meeting
Have your questions answered at the VADems March Committee meeting. Information about the next No Kings protest and Blue Victory Dinner will also be discussed. Sign up to attend here.
When: Wednesday, March 4th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School (3500 South 23rd Street, Arlington, VA 22206)
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Virginians for Fair Elections – Arlington Canvassing
Join fellow Arlington Democrats to knock on doors and speak with voters about the importance of voting YES to fair elections! For more information regarding Virginians for Fair Elections, visit their website here.
When: Several times are available to participate; register here.
Where: Address available upon registration
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Tiny Tots: Birds
Enjoy parks and recreation with your 18-35 month old at the Gulf Branch Nature Center. Each program will engage your child in a hands-on learning experience, including a variety of activities like songs, games, crafts, and mini-hikes. Register here.
When: Thursday, March 5th, 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center (3608 Military Rd, Arlington, VA 22207)
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Family Night
Enjoy a family friendly program at the Carver Community Center with the chance to win bingo prizes. Enjoy inflatables, an open game room, and creative crafts with the whole family! More information can be found here.
When: Friday, March 6th, 6:00 PM – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Carver Community Center (1415 S Queen St, Arlington, VA 22204)
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.
Your voice is essential and your feedback is vital, so please reach out to our team anytime. You can email my Richmond office at [email protected], or call us (804) 698-1002. We look forward to hearing from you!
Yours in Service,
Delegate Adele McClure, HD-2
