Last night at 7:08pm we adjourned the 2026 General Assembly Session sine die, which marked the end of the legislative session. I’m thrilled that 15 of our bills are now on their way to the Governor’s desk. Thank you to the advocates, constituents, and everyone who participated in the legislative process!
Stay tuned for upcoming town halls and community meetings!
Budget negotiations are continuing to move forward and we are making meaningful progress toward a final agreement that reflects the priorities of Virginians across the Commonwealth. We’ll likely return to Richmond for a special session on April 23rd to take a vote on the final budget. Stay tuned for additional updates.
I am pleased to announce that this week, the final house bills passed the General Assembly, including seven of my own bills: HB18, HB20, HB329, HB527, HB834, HB837, and HB838. That means that a total of fifteen of my bills that first 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. My two bills that did not pass will still move forward without legislation, through a directive letter or other administrative action.
And don’t forget: early voting has begun 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 lasts only until the next redistricting cycle in 2030.
Lastly, with severe thunderstorms and the potential for tornadoes in the forecast for tomorrow, please ensure you are signed up for Arlington County’s emergency alert system. You can register for Arlington Alert to receive real-time updates by text, phone, or email at https://www.arlingtonalert.com. Stay safe and be prepared.
Continue reading below for more updates!
Legislative Updates
Monday started with three of my bills passing the Senate: HB18, HB20, and HB329.
HB18 would establish the Employee Child Care Assistance Program to incentivize employers to match child care costs for their employees. The high costs of childcare impact families across the Commonwealth, particularly in Arlington County, which was ranked the most expensive county in the nation for child care. This program will provide some much needed relief for Virginia families. This bill passed the Senate unanimously! I also secured $25 million in the House and Senate budget for this program.
HB20 would finally provide our farmworkers with long-overdue minimum wage protections by removing the farmworker exemption from the Virginia Minimum Wage Act. I have carried this bill since 2024, and before me, Chairwoman Jeion Ward carried it. It is my hope that after so many years of fighting, this shameful Jim Crow relic will finally be removed from the Code of Virginia. This bill passed the Senate with a vote of 21-19.
A historic first: The Virginia Farm Bureau and Virginia Agribusiness Council bothsupport this bill to ensure farmworkers are protected by the Virginia Minimum Wage Act!
HB329 would strengthen protections for tenants facing landlord retaliation by expanding the definition of retaliatory acts to include harassment. It is my hope that this bill will give tenants across Virginia a voice without fear of harassment or retaliation from their landlord. This bill passed the Senate with a vote of 25-15.
On Tuesday, my final bills passed the Senate: HB527, HB834, HB837, and HB838.
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 passed the Senate with a vote of 21-19 and now heads to the Governor’s desk where it will be signed into law. I also secured an additional $10 million dollars in the House budget for this program to ensure it becomes a permanent fixture within state law.
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 passed the Senate with a vote of 21-19.
HB837 would broaden the eligibility for the Eviction Diversion Court Program, lowering initial cost barriers and removing overly strict late-payment disqualifications. This bill passed the Senate with a vote of 21-19.
HB838 would 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 passed the Senate unanimously.
I am immensely proud of the work we accomplished this session, including passing fifteen of my bills and two resolutions successfully through the General Assembly. I will be closely monitoring their progress through the final stages of the process as they head to Governor Spanberger for signature. Here is the final list of bills and resolutions:
HB18: This bill would establish the Employee Child Care Assistance Program to incentivize employers to match child care costs for their employees.
HB19: This bill 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.
HB20: This bill would finally provide our farmworkers with long-overdue minimum wage protections.
HB82: This bill moves 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, making voting more accessible to working voters and combatting frequently delayed mail deliveries.
HB329: This bill would strengthen protections for tenants facing landlord retaliation.
HB330: This bill 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.
HB331: This bill would prevent individuals from being convicted for simply having outstanding court fees.
HB524: This bill 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 is huge for Arlington and our entire Commonwealth.
HB527: This bill would expand and make permanent the Eviction Reduction Program to help prevent evictions, support housing stability, and identify barriers that lead to evictions.
HB833: This bill would allow local governments the authority to require new commercial, industrial, and multi-family developments to include infrastructure for electric vehicle charging.
HB834: This bill 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 if there are reasonable alternatives to terminating the tenancy.
HB835: This bill would provide elected officials and candidates the choice to protect their personal contact information from appearing on public facing documents unless otherwise consented.
HB837: This bill would broaden the eligibility for the Eviction Diversion Program, lowering initial cost barriers and removing overly strict late-payment disqualifications.
HB838: This bill would 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.
HB1405: This bill 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.
HJ127: Celebrating the life of Jaylen Martinez, who was just 13 years old when he lost his life as a result of the improper storage of a loaded firearm at a friend’s house. He was a talented basketball player, a beloved member of his community, and his light and extraordinary presence are dearly missed.
HJ248: Celebrating the life of John Caffrey Angell, fellow Arlingtonian who dedicated his life to public service both in the United States Congress and White House. Despite being a victim of the anthrax attacks in 2001, John Angell continued his public service on the Hill and beyond by becoming an adjunct professor at George Washington University and inspiring the next generation of leaders.
None of these legislative victories would have been possible without your support, engagement, and advocacy. Your voices help shape the priorities we fight for in Richmond, and I am deeply grateful for the trust you place in me and this work. I’m looking forward to being back home and sharing more about these accomplishments, how they came together during the legislative process, and what comes next.
General Assembly Victories
This legislative session has been incredibly successful! My Democratic colleagues and I have dedicated significant time and effort to advancing legislation that serves and protects Virginians across the Commonwealth. Many priority bills have now passed both the House and Senate and are heading to Governor Spanberger’s desk for final approval. I’m pleased to highlight a few of these important achievements:
HB1, patroned by Delegate Ward, has passed both chambers and is awaiting Governor Spanberger’s signature. This bill would incrementally increase the minimum wage to $15 by January 2028, helping ensure that hardworking Virginians can better keep up with the rising cost of living. I was proud to serve as a chief co-patron of this bill and to support an effort that will make a meaningful difference for workers and families across the Commonwealth.
HB5, patroned by Delegate Convirs-Fowler, passed both chambers yesterday. This bill would expand access to paid sick leave by allowing most employees in Virginia to earn paid time off they can use to care for themselves or a family member. I was proud to serve as co-patron on this bill along with many House Democratic colleagues and vote for its ultimate passage on the House floor.
HB54, patroned by Delegate Sullivan, creates a statewide internship program coordinator to help attract talented interns to state government and provide professional development opportunities that prepare them for future careers serving the Commonwealth. As a board member of Pay Our Interns, I was proud to serve as a chief co-patron on this bill and vote for it on the House floor.
HB211, patroned by Delegate Gardner, establishes Head Start Programs, free federally funded early childhood education programs, as a Commonwealth priority. This is a huge win for Virginia’s children! I am proud to have served as a chief co-patron and voted in favor of this bill on the House floor.
HB397, patroned by Delegate Herring, would have Virginia rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and establish a market-based trading regulation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the Commonwealth. I am proud to have voted in favor of this bill on the House floor.
HB483 and its cognate SB271, patroned by Delegate Delaney and Senator Deeds, has officially passed the House and Senate. If signed into law, this bill would establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to make prescription medicine more affordable. I was proud to vote for this bill on the House floor.
HB549, patroned by Delegate Hope, has officially passed both chambers. This legislation would give all Virginia localities the ability to set tree canopy replacement and preservation standards if they so choose. This bill would also expand the ability to preserve trees statewide, an authority that has been long overdue. I was proud to serve as a chief co-patron as well as a House conferee to get this bill across the finish line and passed through the House floor.
HB601, patroned by Delegate Hernandez, helps protect Virginians’ bank accounts from garnishment by automatically shielding up to $1,000 and certain benefit payments so individuals can keep access to essential funds needed for basic living expenses. I was proud to serve as a chief co-patron on this bill and vote in favor of this bill on the House floor.
HB1092, patroned by Delegate Hernandez, establishes workplace safety standards to protect workers from dangerous heat conditions and requires employers to take steps to prevent heat-related illness on the job. I was proud to serve as a chief co-patron on this bill and vote in favor of this bill on the House floor.
HB1408, patroned by Delegate Schmidt, protects victims of abuse from having to notify their landlord if their abuser returns to the unit, preventing the landlord from terminating the lease due to the actions of an abuser. I am proud to have voted in favor of this bill in both General Laws and on the House floor.
HB1441, patroned by Delegate Lopez, has also officially passed the House and Senate. This bill would protect Virginians by prohibiting state and local law enforcement from collaborating with federal immigration law enforcement, with certain exceptions. I am proud to have voted in favor of this bill on three separate occasions: in Subcommittee #3 of the Public Safety committee, as Vice Chair of the Public Safety committee, and on the House floor.
Additionally, four constitutional amendments passed the House and Senate this session, these critical amendments will now be on the ballot for Virginians to decide later this year! I am proud to have co-patroned these constitutional amendments and hope to see them codified after the voters have had their say.
HJ1 enshrines reproductive freedom in the Virginia Constitution, protecting access to contraception, abortion care, IVF, prenatal and postpartum care, miscarriage management, and infertility treatment.
HJ2 guarantees the automatic restoration of voting rights for otherwise eligible voters re-entering society after felony convictions.
HJ3 enshrines marriage equality into the Constitution of Virginia. It will also remove Virginia’s outdated constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and protect marriage equality.
HJ4 provides a one-time, temporary exception to redraw congressional districts and give Virginians a crucial voice, while ensuring Virginia’s bipartisan redistricting process will resume after the 2030 census.
Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Press Conference
On Thursday morning, I had the privilege of speaking at the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus (VLBC) Press Conference alongside my colleagues. We discussed the tremendous progress we as a caucus have made on housing initiatives. Together, me and my colleagues passed legislation to address housing affordability, tenant protections, and affordable child care, including my bills HB18, HB329, and HB527, which passed the Senate earlier this week.
Other pivotal legislation includes SB181, carried by Senator Williams Graves, which addresses the current housing crisis by increasing the affordable housing supply in Virginia. HB281, carried by Delegate Callsen, would finally allow judges to consider evidence of a landlord’s failure to keep the home livable as a defense to eviction. HB174, carried by Delegate Feggans, protects our military tenants by removing the requirement that military personnel must provide a 60 day notice to terminate a rental agreement.
I was so proud to not only champion a few of these tremendous bills, but to also vote in support of my colleagues’ legislation as a member of the General Laws Committee and the House. As a member of the Virginia Housing Commission, affordable housing and tenant protections has been a top priority of mine, and I am delighted to see such progress on these issues.
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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Arlington Democrats Redistricting Town Hall
Do you have questions about the upcoming Virginia redistricting process on April 21? The Arlington Democrats are hosting a town hall discussion and Q&A to answer all of your questions before the election. Register here.
When: Wednesday, March 18th, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Innovation Elementary School (2300 Key Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201)
Governors Fellowship Program
The 2026 Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program is now open for interested applicants!
This rewarding program is open to college seniors, graduating seniors, or graduate students who are committed to public service and demonstrate strong academic leadership. Students in this fellowship will participate in an eight-week experience within the Office of the Governor, serving as members of various offices within the Administration. I have worked with many people who participated in this program, and they have all shared the same thing: it has been one of the most impactful programs they have ever participated in. Please reach out to my office if you have any questions about the program.
Program Dates: June 8 through July 31, 2026
Application Deadline: Monday, April 10, 2026
Learn more information about the application process here.
Early Voting Information
On Friday March 6th, early in-person voting began for the proposed redistricting referendum in Virginia. The proposed statewide referendum would allow the General Assembly to redraw the congressional district maps, but only until the next redistricting cycle in 2030. Your vote in this election matters! Please VOTE YES!
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.
Although we have reached the end of the 2026 General Assembly session, your voice remains as important as ever! Please reach out to my team anytime you have anything to share, any questions, or are looking for assistance. You can email my office at [email protected] or (703) 239-4425. We look forward to hearing from you!
Yours in Action,
Delegate Adele McClure, HD-2
