Virginia General Assembly

Rule Changes

Passed all three amendments twice, sending them to voters

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Virginia's constitution will guarantee access to abortion and contraception, protect same-sex and interracial marriage, and restore voting rights automatically when someone leaves prison. Voters approved all three amendments on Nov. 3, with support ranging from 56.5% to 62.4% across the three questions.

Updated 3 days ago

Rule Changes

Must approve any charter amendment

A joint City Council and School Board committee voted 3-1 on October 20 to recommend four-year School Board terms and nothing else. All nine members would still be elected at the same time, and the board would stay at nine seats. Councilman Canek Aguirre cast the only no vote because he wanted a smaller board.

Updated Oct 30

Rule Changes

Passed HB 888 limiting parking requirements near transit

Alexandria's Planning Commission voted 6-0 on November 5 to recommend replacing the city's variable parking formula for multifamily buildings with a flat minimum of half a space per home. The recommendation sends Zoning Text Amendment #2026-00006 to the City Council, which has the final say.

Updated Oct 26

Rule Changes

Passed the Faith in Housing Act in 2026

Alexandria's Planning Commission was scheduled to take up the city's Faith in Housing rules at 7 p.m. November 5. No recommendation had been posted as of November 10, and the City Council is set to consider the same items November 14 at 9:30 a.m.

Updated Oct 25

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Democratic majority in both chambers

For 250 years and 74 governors, Virginia had never elected a woman to its highest office, but Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA case officer, changed that on January 17, 2026. She took the oath on the Capitol steps in Richmond alongside Ghazala Hashmi, the first Muslim woman to hold statewide office in the U.S., and Jay Jones, Virginia's first Black attorney general. Within hours, she signed 10 executive orders and appointed 27 new members to public university boards, including vacancies at UVA from recent board resignations.

Updated May 21