We’ve just wrapped up the eighth week of session! It is hard to believe that the end of the 2026 session is rapidly approaching and I will be back in the District soon.
As always, it is my greatest honor to serve the constituents of the 2nd District, and continue working on legislation that will benefit not just those in Arlington, but residents across the Commonwealth. I am especially pleased to announce that this week, six of my bills (HB19, HB82, HB331, HB524, HB833 and HB835) all passed the Senate. That means that a grand total of eight of my bills that passed the House have now also passed the Senate! These bills will now be sent to Governor Spanberger’s desk for final approval – either with proposed amendments, a veto, or signed into law.
And don’t forget that today, Friday March 6th, early voting begins for the proposed redistricting referendum in Virginia. This temporary change would allow the General Assembly to redraw the congressional district maps, level the playing field, and last only until the next redistricting cycle in 2030. Scroll below for more information.
Read along below for more updates!
Legislative Updates
Monday started with four of my bills passing the Senate: HB19, HB82, HB524and HB835!
HB19 would close the deadly “dating partner” loophole that exists in current law, by ensuring that no individual convicted of assault and battery against an intimate partner would be able to purchase, possess, or transport a firearm. This would protect families and abuse survivors across the Commonwealth from known convicted domestic abusers and ensure public safety. I am glad to have received bipartisan support on this bill as it passed the Senate with a vote of 22-18.
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. This is a much needed update to our voting procedures, and reflects the influx of absentee ballots since COVID-19. This bill passed the Senate with a vote of 22-18.
HB524 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 is beneficial not only to Arlington County tourism, but to our local businesses, community, and Virginia as a whole. This bill passed the Senate with a vote of 21-19.
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 and candidates deserve to feel safe in the Commonwealth that they serve and call home. As political tensions rise across our nation, this is a much needed safeguard. The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 21-19.
Wednesday was very successful! It began with two more of my bills passing the Senate: HB331 and HB833.
HB331 would prevent individuals from being convicted for simply having outstanding court fees. This bill passed the Senate with a vote of 21-19.
HB833 would give local governments the authority to require new commercial, industrial, and multi-family developments to include infrastructure for electric vehicle charging. This allows Virginia to not only become more EV friendly, but improves affordability. This bill passed the Senate with a vote of 22-18.
Finally, late Wednesday evening, four of my bills were reported from the Senate General Laws and Technology committee: HB329, HB527, HB834, and HB837.
HB329 would strengthen protections for tenants facing landlord retaliation. This bill was reported unanimously and now heads to the Senate floor for a final vote.
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 is part of the Governor’s Affordability Agenda. This bill was reported with a vote of 10-5 and now heads to the Senate floor for a final vote.
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 9-6 and now heads to the Senate floor for a final vote.
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 9-6 and now heads to the Senate floor for a final vote.
On Thursday morning, I presented HB838 to the Senate Health and Human Resources subcommittee of the Finance and Appropriations committee. HB838would give the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) the authority to update the existing state plan to include language from my bill last year (HB1614) to include payments for doula services. This bill was reported out of full Senate Finance and Appropriations committee this morning and heads to the Senate floor next week.
Committee Activities
This week was full of goodbyes as I had my final committee meetings for the 2026 General Assembly session.
My first meeting this week was the General Laws full Committee on Tuesday. We took action on 10 bills, including Senator Pekarsky’s SB258, which would amend the Virginia Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on menopause or perimenopause in employment, housing, public accommodations, and state programs. Review the full docket here.
Also on Tuesday, I chaired the final Procurement subcommittee meeting of the House General Laws for the 2026 General Assembly session. We took action on three bills: SB50, SB326, SB575. Watch the full meeting here.
Later Tuesday evening, I attended the final Innovations subcommittee of the House Transportation committee, where we took action on nine bills. Review the full docket here.
Thursday was another bittersweet day as we wrapped up the work of the Transportation committee. I attended the final meeting in the morning, where we took action on fifteen bills, including Senator McPike’s SB446. This bill would extend the validity of non-REAL ID licenses and permits, lowering the workload of the DMV and protecting our immigrant communities.
This morning I attended the final Public Safety Committee, where we heard from multiple members of Governor Spanberger’s cabinet to address public safety concerns, including the Secretary of Public Safety, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Adjutant General. During this meeting, cabinet members addressed how the international conflicts in the Middle East impact the public safety and health of Virginians and what measures are being implemented to ensure the ongoing safety of Virginians. Watch the full meeting here.
It has been an honor to serve as Vice Chair of the House Public Safety Committee and as the Chair of the Procurement/Open Government Subcommittee and the Subcommittee #5!
The Budget is In!
Virginia House of Delegates passed HB30 – the Affordable Virginia Budget – with strong bipartisan support. The Affordable Virginia budget is focused on responding to federal cuts, lowering costs, strengthening healthcare, expanding childcare, and supporting working families across the Commonwealth. Find the full House and Senate budgets here.
If you are looking for more resources to learn about the budget, here is a helpful side-by-side resource from The Commonwealth Institute.
I am pleased to announce that both my proposed budget amendments have passed the House: 126 #3h and 102 #14h.
The proposed biennial (two year) budget for the fiscal years 2026-2028 is currently in conference with the Senate, which means representatives from both the House and the Senate are working through differences to arrive at a single budget compromise. Then one, uniform budget will be sent to Governor Spanberger for approval. I am proud to have secured funding for affordable child care and critical housing programs for families and individuals across the Commonwealth!
My budget amendment, 126#3h, secures $25 million dollars for the Employee Child Care Assistance Program created by HB18. I have been working for the past three years to get this program established, and this funding will ensure it comes to fruition! This increase of childcare support will ensure that more working families can afford to stay in the workforce.
102 #14h, meanwhile, secures an additional $10 million dollars for the Virginia Eviction Reduction Program, or VERP. This program provides localities with flexible funds to help keep people in their homes during difficult times. This additional funding will ensure that this program becomes a permanent fixture within Virginia code, just as intended by my HB527. I am immensely proud to share this milestone with you all! Affordable housing and tenant protections have been a focal point of my career, and it is wonderful to see progress on this issue.
Adele in the News
The Hill featured an article recognizing fifty women as part of its inaugural Top Women Shaping Policy. I am honored to have been listed among these truly impressive women in politics! In a polarized political landscape, representation matters. I am truly pleased to be a part of the progress we’ve made towards building a more affordable Virginia through my work advocating for increased funding for public transportation. Supporting public transportation is vital, especially in Arlington, which has access to the most metro stops of any House district. This is why I carried and passed HB330, which would allow locally approved advertisements to appear on WMATA-owned property, creating revenue opportunities for the WMATA to support their operations and service improvement efforts.
Virginia Public Media (VPM) featured an article highlighting the proposed legislation this session that would address the high costs of childcare, including my bill HB18 and its cognate SB3, carried by Senator Aird. HB18 and SB3 would establish the Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program to incentivize employers to match child care costs for their employees. I also secured $25 million in the budget to aid with the funding of this program! The high costs of childcare impacts those throughout the Commonwealth and makes it difficult for parents to remain in the workforce. Especially in my county of Arlington, which was ranked the most expensive county in the nation for child care. I am pleased to see the progress made on this issue, and it is my hope that this legislation will provide some much needed relief to families across the Commonwealth.
Happenings in the Second District
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 and the proposed redistricting amendment, visit their website here.
When: Several times are available to participate; register here
Where: Address given upon registration.
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Virginia Square Redistricting Open House
Join volunteers and voters in the Virginia Square area to discuss the Redistricting referendum and write postcards to voters.
When: Sunday, March 8, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Where: Address given upon registration; register here
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Winter Food & Toiletry Drive
Help donate shelf-stable food and toiletry items (including diapers) for neighbors in need. Every contribution makes a difference. Most needed items: beans, rice, grains, canned and dried fruit, canned soups, cereal, nuts, protein bars, beef and turkey jerky, kids’ snacks, hygiene items and diapers.
When: Saturday, March 7 from 10 am – 12 pm
Where: Clarendon Presbyterian Church (1305 North Jackson Street)
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Happy Hour Bingo
Unwind with classic bingo, great company, and the chance to win a two-night weekend stay* at the Hyatt Centric Arlington. Drinks will be available for purchase at the cash bar, along with a light bites menu.
When: Wednesday, March 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m
Where: Awbrey & Sons at Hyatt Centric Arlington (1325 Wilson Blvd)
Early Voting Information
Early in-person voting begins today (Friday, March 6th, 2026) and runs through Saturday, April 18th, 2026.
Early in person voting will be taking place at the following locations and times:
Courthouse Plaza (2100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 320)
- Friday, March 6th through Friday, April 17th (Monday through Friday) from 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Saturday, April 11th and Saturday, April 18th from 9:00am to 5:00pm
- EXTENDED HOURS: Tuesday, April 14th and Thursday, April 16th from 9:00am to 7:00pm
Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th Street South)
- Saturday, April 11th and Saturday, April 18th from 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Tuesday, April 14th and Thursday, April 16th from 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Madison Community Center (3829 N Stafford Street)
- Saturday, April 11th and Saturday, April 18th from 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Tuesday, April 14th and Thursday, April 16th from 2:00pm and 7:00pm
You may also apply for a mail ballot until Friday, April 10th, 2026 at 5:00pm
- Mail ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, April 21st and received by Friday, April 24th at 12:00pm to be counted
- The last day to drop off a mail ballot in a county election dropbox is Tuesday, April 21 at 7:00pm
The last day to register to vote in advance of this special election, or update any existing registration is Tuesday, April 14th, 2026
- Same day registration will begin on Wednesday, April 15th and will be available until Election Day on Tuesday, April 21st following the above deadline
For more information on what is on the ballot and more information here.
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.
As we get closer to the end of the 2026 General Assembly session, your feedback is still essential and your voice remains vital! 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 Action,
Delegate Adele McClure, HD-2
