Virginia House Democrats Will Send Over 695 Bills to Governor Spanberger
RICHMOND, VA – This afternoon, Virginia House Democrats gaveled out of the 2026 legislative session and proudly passed over 695 bills. House Democrats delivered on building a more Affordable Virginia by lowering the cost of housing, energy, medicine, and childcare.
“Virginians elected the largest Democratic majority in decades because they knew we would deliver on our promise to lower costs for Virginia families – and we’ve done that,” said Speaker Scott. “Virginians will be spending less on their rent, utility bills, health care, and child care because of legislation we passed this session.”
“We’ve listened to Virginians and worked hard to pass bills that will drive the economy forward and allow Virginians to thrive,” said Leader Herring. “We came here to represent every corner of the Commonwealth, and we are going home having accomplished that.”
“Our top priority this session was affordability,” said Chair Tran. “We are proud of the legislation that we sent to the Governor that will cut costs for working families and strengthen our communities.”
Highlighted legislation passed by House Democrats
Top priorities:
- HB1 (Ward) – Minimum wage; increases incrementally to $15.00 per hour by January 1, 2028.
- HB2 (Sickles) – Electric utilities; energy efficiency upgrades, report.
- HB3 (LeVere Bolling) – Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force; established, definitions, report.
- HB4 (Bennett-Parker) – Affordable housing; preservation, definitions, civil penalty.
- HB5 (Convirs-Fowler) – Employment; Paid sick leave, civil penalty.
- HB6 (Price) – Contraception; establishes right to obtain, applicability, enforcement.
Child care
- HB18 (McClure) – Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program; established, report.
- HB211 (Gardner) – Head start, etc., Head Start State Collaboration Office to develop for endorsement a report, etc.
- HB1208 (Sewell) – Public education; early childhood care and education; child care access calculation; report.
Energy & Utilities
- HB397 (Herring) – Clean energy and community flood preparedness; market-based trading program.
- HB422 (Cole, N.) – Water utilities; reopening rate case in certain instances.
- HB434 (Levere Bolling) – Electric utilities; electric grid utilization metrics; State Corporation Commission.
- HB770 (Herring) – Public utilities; water and sewerage companies; discounted rates for low-income customers.
- HB1062 (Hernandez) – Electric utilities; pilot program for electric energy conservation, generation, and storage.
Healthcare
- HB483 (Delaney) – Prescription Drug Affordability Board established; drug cost affordability review.
- HB484 (Shin) – Health insurance; ethics and fairness in carrier business practices; downcoded claims.
- HB618 (Shin) – Health insurance; reporting requirements.
- HB625 (Henson) – Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans.
- HB676 (Maldonado) – Health insurance; carrier business practices; electronic attachments.
- HB701 (Maldonado) – Health insurance; notice of adverse determinations and right to request external review.
- HB1207 (Sewell) – Paid family and medical leave insurance program; notice requirements; civil action.
- HB1214 (Delaney) – Health insurance; cost-sharing payments for insulin and diabetes equipment and supplies; limit.
Housing
- HB174 (Feggans) – Va. Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; early termination of rental agreement by military personnel.
- HB281 (Callsen) – Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possessions for nonpayment of rent.
- HB616 (Anthony) – Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; tenant records.
- HB837 (McClure) – Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Eviction Diversion Program, alters eligibility.
- HB1005 (Tran) – Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods, prohibited fees.
- HB1325 (Maldonado) – Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; landlord obligations.
- HB1408 (Schmidt) – Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, rental agreement noncompliance.