Richmond, Virginia—Advocates across the Commonwealth are celebrating the passage of HB20, sponsored by Delegate Adele McClure, legislation that removes the long-standing exemption allowing farm workers to be paid less than the minimum wage. With its passage by the House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #2 on a vote of 5-2, it takes a critical step towards becoming […]
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Press Release
Parents, Students, and Teachers Celebrate Passage of Two Education Equity Bills Out of Senate Committee
Richmond, Virginia—Parents, students, and teachers are celebrating today as the Virginia Senate Education and Health Committee Subcommittee on Public Education advanced two major education equity bills that would strengthen how our schools support historically underserved students. SB 90, sponsored by Senator Barbara Favola, passed unanimously (5-0) and SB 685, sponsored by Senator Stella Pekarsky, passed by a […]
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Advocates Applaud Passage of HB3 to Address High Energy Bills for Low-Income Virginians
Richmond, Virginia—Advocates for affordability and healthy communities celebrated as legislation to help low-income households lower their energy bills and improve home safety has passed out of the House Labor and Commerce committee on a vote of 8-1. HB3, sponsored by Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling, would establish a one-year Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force to identify […]
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Workers Celebrate As A Bill To Raise and Extend the Minimum Wage Passes the General Assembly
Richmond, Virginia–Workers are celebrating today as legislation to make the minimum wage sustainable for working families has passed out of the House Labor and Commerce Committee on a vote of 15-7. HB 1, sponsored by Delegate Jeion Ward, would raise the minimum wage to $13.75 an hour in 2027 and $15 an hour in 2028. It […]
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PRESS ADVISORY: Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights To Hold Press Conference on Session Priorities
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 Contact: Kelsey Cowger, kelsey@progressva.org, 434-484-2795 For Comment: press@vacir.com PRESS ADVISORY: Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights To Hold Press Conference on Session Priorities Richmond, Virginia—The Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights (VACIR) will host a press conference to outline its session priorities and provide context for its priority legislation. The press conference will […]
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In A Stunning Rebuke of Republican Overreach, Democrats Win Statewide Trifecta, Increase Legislative Majority
Richmond–In an election widely perceived as a national bellwether for voter sentiment, the voters of Virginia arrived at the polls this election season with a clear goal: to overwhelmingly reject the abuse of power, attacks on the rule of law, and naked corruption that have become a hallmark for so many conservative politicians. Though early […]
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Redistricting Amendment Passes Both Chambers; Advocates Look Ahead To 2026
Richmond– In a decisive move to protect democracy and ensure fair representation, both chambers of the legislature have passed a constitutional amendment that allows the Commonwealth to respond to national efforts to undermine voting rights through partisan redistricting. The amendment, which cleared its third and final reading in the Senate this morning, preserves Virginia’s independent […]
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ICYMI: Virginia’s Economic Growth Collapses Under Trump, Now Among The Lowest In US
Richmond, Virginia—Yesterday, Cardinal News published a sobering piece about Virginia’s long-vaunted economic growth and how it has radically reversed under the Trump regime. Just a year ago, Virginia’s GDP was tied with New Hampshire for 6th-fastest GDP growth in the nation; it has now fallen to among the lowest growth rates in the US, at just 1.7%. Northern Virginia […]
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Press Release: Republican Shutdown Politics Endangers Health Care Access Across Virginia
Richmond, VA—As we enter week three of the federal government shutdown, the Senate has gaveled into session every morning to vote on two bills: the measure passed by the House to fund the government until November 21, and a second measure, offered by Democrats, to extend the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and restoring […]
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Earle-Sears Brings Chaos, Conspiracies, and Confusion to Virginia’s Only Gubernatorial Debate
Norfolk, VA—Last night, Virginia gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Earle-Sears squared off at Norfolk State University for their first and only debate of the campaign. The hour-long debate was marked by constant interruptions by Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears and even more baffling responses to the moderator’s questions. “Our community deserves a governor who takes the […]