By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Plans on abortion access, voting rights, worker benefits and housing are outlined in the first 2026 bills filed by Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates.
The filings include House Bills 1 through 6 and House Joint Resolutions 1 through 4. Democrats now hold the governor’s office and majorities in both chambers, giving them what is known as a government trifecta. The party is also in lieutenant governor’s office and attorney general’s office, giving a clear path to set the early agenda ahead of January’s session.
House Bill 1 raises Virginia’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2028. The bill sets the next increase to $12.77 on Jan. 1, then $13.75 in 2027. After that, the wage would rise automatically with inflation each year.
House Bill 2 directs electric utilities to make low-income energy efficiency upgrades. The proposal requires Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to complete improvements for at least 30% of qualifying households by the end of 2031. Utilities would also have to report progress to the State Corporation Commission each year.
House Bill 3 creates a Weatherization Task Force inside the Department of Housing and Community Development. The group would identify barriers to home energy repair programs, develop a statewide improvement plan, and submit findings by Sept. 30, 2027.
House Bill 4 establishes a framework for localities to preserve affordable housing by giving them the option to adopt a right of first refusal on publicly supported properties. Any locality with at least 3,500 residents that adopts the program would be required to report annually to the state.
House Bill 5 expands paid sick leave requirements. It raises the number of workers covered under state law, sets new recordkeeping and employer notification rules, and adds penalties for violations. The bill also allows employees to use paid sick leave for domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations.
House Bill 6 creates a statutory right to obtain contraception and bars anyone from infringing on that right. It clarifies that nothing in the bill can be used to permit or require sterilization without consent.
The constitutional amendments reintroduced this week follow measures passed during the 2025 session. House Joint Resolution 1 would add reproductive freedom protections to the state constitution.
House Joint Resolution 2 concerns voting qualifications and the right to vote. House Joint Resolution 3 repeals the state’s same-sex marriage prohibition and affirms the right to marry. House Joint Resolution 4 addresses congressional redistricting authority.
Under Virginia’s constitution, amendments must pass two sessions with an election in between before voters decide them on the ballot.
Democrats said in a statement these filings “focus on protecting fundamental rights and freedoms and strengthening economic security for working families across the commonwealth.”