Virginia General Assemby
Explore Our Explainer
Understanding Our State Government
The bicameral Virginia General Assembly consists of the House of Delegates and the Senate. The Virginia General Assembly convenes annually on the second Wednesday in January.
The General Assembly is a part-time legislature, meaning that elected members convene for a period of only a few months per year in order to debate and pass legislation (though members may “pre-file” legislation prior to the session). General Assembly sessions typically begin in January and end in March of each year, often forcing members to scramble to pass a years’ worth of statutes and regulations in mere weeks.
On years ending with an odd number, the General Assembly convenes for 30 days; on years ending with an even number, the General Assembly convenes for 60 days. The 2024 legislative session convenes on January 10, 2024 will adjourn on March 9, 2024.
The Senate of Virginia is composed of 40 members with each Senator serving four year terms. Each Senator receives a salary of $18,000. The Senate is led by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) with the President pro tempore presiding over the Senate in the LG’s absence. The Senate is currently controlled by the Democratic Party with a 22-18 majority as of November 2023. All 40 seats were up for election in November 2023. The State Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Winsome Sears (R).
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower chamber, made up of 100 members who serve two-year terms. Each Delegate receives a salary of $17,640. The Republican Party currently controls the House with a 48-46 majority with 6 vacancies as of November 2023. The House of Delegates is presided over by a Speaker of the House, Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-15). The duties of a Delegate are consistent with that of a Senator, in that they write, amend, and pass legislation in committees and as a House.
Explore the demographic make-up of the General Assembly. Stream the Virginia House of Delegates here. Stream the Senate of Virginia here.
The Governor of Virginia makes an address at least once per session to the General Assembly on the state of the Commonwealth (efficiently called the “State of the Commonwealth Address”). The Governor can veto legislation passed by the General Assembly and must sign legislation into law. Article IV, Section 6 of the Virginia Constitution states that “The Governor may convene a special session of the General Assembly when, in his opinion, the interest of the Commonwealth may require and shall convene a special session upon the application of two-thirds of the members elected to each house.”
Virginia operates under a two-year (biennial) budget cycle. Each year the Governor prepares the proposed budget bill for introduction by the General Assembly. The bill is initially adopted in even-numbered years and amended in odd-numbered years. Before the General Assembly adjourns each year, a conference committee resolves any differences between the versions of the budget passed by the two houses.
Virginia is a so-called “Dillon’s Rule” state, which means that localities can only wield powers explicitly authorized to them by the state. Read about the National League of Cities efforts to reform legal principles in order to empower cities.
How to research members of the General Assembly
Look up your Virginia legislators here.
Once you have identified your legislator, learn more about them at the Virginia Public Access Project.
How to track Legislation
Track the status of legislation in the Virginia Legislative Information System
The Virginia Public Access Project offers a searchable and user-friendly tool to look up legislation by issue, key words and numbers
Statewide Election Information
Virginia is one eight states in the U.S. holding elections for legislative chambers in 2023.
Visit the Virginia Department of Elections website for more information about Virginia elections and how to register to vote or request an absentee ballot.
Tips for communicating with your legislator
Identify yourself. Let your legislator know that you’re a constituent and explain your stake in the community that they represent.
Know the issue. Be knowledgeable and well-researched about the issue you want to discuss. Your legislator will take you more seriously if you appear professional and intelligent about the topic.
Share your position. Be persuasive in explaining your stance, using facts, statistics and evidence. Use personal anecdotes or stories of friends in order to support your evidence and argument.
End with a hard ask. End your meeting by asking them if they plan to support the discussed legislation. Always remain respectful and thank them for their time.
How to comment and participate
Speak remotely and provide written comments in House of Delegates meetings here
Virginians have the opportunity to provide committee testimony without having to travel to Richmond. Both House and Senate officials have said they will accept committee testimony via Zoom and receive written comments online.
House Meeting Schedule
Senate Meeting Schedule
During the legislative session, it is best to send a written letter to your legislators, but their offices can also be reached via email or phone call. Find your Delegate’s in-session contact information here. Find your Senator’s in-session contact information here.
Mailing Address During Session:
Delegate [Name]
House of Delegates
PO Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Senator [Name]
Senate of Virginia
PO Box 396
Richmond, VA 23218
Legislators are more likely to respond to you if you are a registered voter. Register to vote or update an existing registration.
Committees
After being introduced by a legislator, all bills and many resolutions are referred to a committee. Bills and resolutions introduced in the Senate of Virginia are referred by the Clerk of the Senate. Bills and resolutions introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates are referred by the Speaker of the House.
House of Delegates Committees
Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources
Appropriations
Communications, Technology and Innovation
Counties, Cities & Towns
Courts of Justice
Education
Finance
General Laws
Health, Welfare & Institutions
Labor and Commerce
Privileges & Elections
Public Safety
Rules
Transportation
Senate Committees
Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources
Commerce & Labor
Education & Health
Finance and Appropriations
General Laws & Technology
Judiciary
Local Government
Privileges & Elections
Rehabilitation & Social Services
Rules
Transportation
Primary Elections 2023 Key Dates
May 3, 2024 – First day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office
May 27, 2024 – Deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration (Voters can register after this date, through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot).
June 7, 2024 – Deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you. Your request must be received by your local voter registration office by 5:00 p.m.
June 8, 2024 – Voter registration offices open for early voting
June 15, 2024 – The last day of in-person early voting at your local voter registration office
See who is on your ballot by viewing the candidate lists.
General Elections 2023 Key Dates
September 20, 2024 – First day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office
October 15, 2024 – Deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration. (Voters may register after this date, through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot).
October 25, 2024 – Deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you. Your request must be received by your local voter registration office by 5:00 p.m.
October 26, 2024 – Voter registration offices open for early voting
November 2, 2024 – The last day of in-person early voting at your local voter registration office
See who is on your ballot by viewing the candidate lists.