VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

    • 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 2023 legislative session convenes on January 11, 2023 will adjourn on February 25, 2023.

      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 January 2023. All 40 seats are 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 52-48 majority as of January 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

      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

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      Tips for communicating with your legislator