WASHINGTON — The 2024 Virginia legislative session ended over the weekend, and the progress made by the new fully controlled Democratic majority in the legislature was on full display. Virginia Democrats passed a progressive slate of bills, including strengthening schools and the economy, bolstering reproductive rights, and improving gun safety. Democrats also killed dangerous GOP bills that would have undermined voting access and threatened reproductive freedom.
This legislative session shows that elections have consequences. Democrats are delivering on their promise to fight to help Virginia communities succeed. In November, after investing over $2.2 million to win both chambers, the DLCC and our partners won majorities in both legislative chambers in Virginia, protecting reproductive rights for millions of Virginians and giving Democrats full legislative control in a key political battleground state. Now, the Democratic agenda for both majorities stands in stark contrast to Republicans’ MAGA extremism – including their plan to pass an abortion ban – and illustrates the full effects of what happens when Democrats lead the state legislature.
Because of Democratic victories, one of the first bills passed and signed into law from this new session codified marriage rights for same-sex couples into law, a proposal which had previously been blocked by Republicans in the legislature.
The following Democratic bills were among those sent to Gov Youngkin’s desk.
- HB 1 would raise the minimum wage to $13.50 starting in 2025, and $15 by 2026.
- HB 2 would ban assault weapons.
- HB 819 would require health insurance companies to provide coverage for contraception for all plans in VA.
- HB 519 would ban the Board of Medicine from taking disciplinary actions against doctors who provide abortion care.
- HB 187 would fund education and gives teachers the support they need with pay raises.
- HB 174 codifies marriage rights for same-sex couples into law.
Meanwhile, the Virginia Democratic majority killed the following GOP bills:
- HB 404 would have denied any state funds to hospitals that provide and refer patients to abortion care.
- HB44 would have cut the number of days voters can vote early in-person from 45 days to 30 days.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“The progress made by Virginia legislative Democrats this session is exactly why the DLCC and our partners worked tirelessly to deliver the majority in November. Elections matter. If Republicans had won last November, we would be talking today about a newly imposed abortion ban taking away rights from millions. Instead, Democrats have placed bill after bill on the Governor’s desk to move the commonwealth forward and secure progress for their constituents.
“This is a concrete example of how state legislative Democrats lead – they keep GOP extremism in check and focus on strengthening reproductive rights, gun safety, and economic security. Building on our recent wins in Virginia, the DLCC has the most expansive target map to date in 2024 so we can continue building Democratic power across the country.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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