Adele McClure | ARLnow.com

From paid leave to gun legislation, here’s what changes in Virginia on July 1

Published June 29, 2026 at 4:45PM

Del. Adele McClure, D-2, at 2026 Juneteenth celebration (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

More than 1,100 bills have come out of the latest General Assembly session, and many take effect on July 1.

As Democrats gained a trifecta with the election of Gov. Abigail Spanberger and control of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, legislators passed bills focused on immigration enforcement, gun control, housing and tenant protections, reproductive rights and more. Democrats also passed Virginia’s first-ever paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave, and child care assistance programs for workers.

News

Del. McClure’s childcare assistance bill is signed, but funding questions persist

By Emily Leayman

Published May 28, 2026 at 2:45PM

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs bills to create the Employee Child Care Assistance Program (via Office of Gov. Abigail Spanberger)

Legislation addressing the high cost of childcare in Virginia has received Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s signature — but it’s still unclear how much funding it will entail.

The governor held a ceremonial signing at a Richmond daycare yesterday (Wednesday) for Del. Adele McClure’s HB 18 and the Senate version (SB 3) by state Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D-13). The pair of bills will create an Employee Child Care Assistance Program with matching funds to incentivize employers to provide contributions for their employees’ childcare costs.

News

Governor signs Arlington legislators’ bills on elections, eviction prevention, tourism districts

By Emily Leayman

Published April 10, 2026 at 1:45PM

Dels. Alfonso Lopez, Patrick Hope and Adele McClure (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Numerous pieces of legislation from Arlington lawmakers are officially set to become law following final approval from Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

Among the approximately 1,200 bills passed out of the 2026 session, legislation on elections, eviction prevention, tourism improvement districts and the minimum wage all came by way of state senators and delegates representing Arlington. Most signed bills will take effect on July 1, 2026, unless otherwise specified.

News

Arlington legislators’ bills on oversight, affordable housing and more enter home stretch

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 20, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated February 20, 2026 at 9:21AM

Dels. Alfonso Lopez, Patrick Hope and Adele McClure (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Arlington’s five-member legislative delegation heads into the General Assembly’s home stretch with a large number of its bills still alive.

Among the most successful was Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3), who got 21 pieces of legislation through the House of Delegates before crossover, the period when bills move to the opposite house for consideration.

News

Virginia lawmakers advance later deadline for counting ballots after postal delays

By Emily Leayman

Published February 19, 2026 at 2:45PM

Del. Adele McClure (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Legislators representing Arlington are advancing matching bills to extend elections offices’ deadlines for receiving and counting absentee ballots.

HB 82 and SB 58, introduced by Del. Adele McClure (D-2) and State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40), respectively, call for moving the deadline from noon to 5 p.m. on the third day after an election.

News

Gov. Spanberger’s inauguration raises expectations for wave of bills coming out of N. Va.

By Dan Egitto

Published January 20, 2026 at 8:45AM

Surrounded by her family, Gov. Abigail Spanberger gets sworn into office, Jan. 17, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Northern Virginia Democrats were in high spirits at the inauguration of Gov. Abigail Spanberger this weekend, looking toward new opportunities for a variety of bills held back by the previous administration.

Legislators and political observers expect fewer vetoes and more collaboration with Democratic policymakers — including those in Northern Virginia — under Spanberger, a centrist Democrat who emphasized bipartisan solutions to issues like housing and health care costs on the campaign trail and in her inauguration speech.

News

Transit funding fights could raise the profile of Del. McClure in 2026

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 2, 2026 at 9:15AM

Del. Adele McClure, D-2 (screenshot via Northern Virginia Transportation Authority)

The unexpected departure of a major pro-transit voice in the Virginia General Assembly has created a void that an Arlington legislator appears primed to fill.

Del. Adele McClure (D-2), who sits on the House Committee on Transportation, has provided a key voice in various recent discussions on transit. In the 2026 General Assembly session, she could step into the shoes left behind by former Del. Mark Sickles (D-17), who is leaving his elected post to become Virginia’s next Secretary of Finance.

News

Arlington residents press lawmakers on Medicaid funding, affordable housing policy

By Jared Serre

Published December 17, 2025 at 10:00AM

Members of Arlington's state delegation listen to residents on Dec. 11 (photo via Arlington County Board)

Funding for Medicaid in Virginia and affordable housing on church-owned property were among Arlington residents’ priorities for state lawmakers at a meeting last week.

The pre-legislative meeting with Sens. Barbara Favola and Adam Ebbin, and Dels. Patrick Hope, Alfonso Lopez and Adele McClure, came ahead of the Virginia General Assembly session scheduled to begin on Jan. 14. Other topics of discussion ranged from expanding ranked-choice voting to an age verification law for pornography sites.

News

Arlington’s state delegates hope to get more done in 2026 after Democratic wins

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 24, 2025 at 3:45PM

Del. Alfonso Lopez and Del. Adele McClure at a recent County Board work session (via Arlington County)

Arlington’s state delegates aim to use a stronger majority and a new Democratic governor to push through legislation that had previously stalled.

Dels. Patrick Hope (D-1), Adele McClure (D-2) and Alfonso Lopez (D-3) all plan to return to past legislative priorities, resubmitting some bills and advancing new ones.

News

Arlington Democrats hold up local and statewide wins as rebuke of Trump

By Dan Egitto and Scott McCaffrey

Published November 5, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated November 5, 2025 at 10:18AM

County Board Chair Takis Karantonis addresses supporters following his reelection on Tuesday, Nov. 4 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Arlington Democrats celebrated big wins at both the local and state level yesterday (Tuesday), connecting voters’ decisions to the Trump administration’s impacts on Virginia.

In speeches before a jubilant crowd at Fire Works Pizza in Courthouse, several victors in Arlington’s blue sweep lifted up the success of gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger and other Democrats in statewide races on Election Day.

News

DEVELOPING: Karantonis reelected to County Board as Democrats sweep local races

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2025 at 8:05PM | Updated November 4, 2025 at 9:28PM

Takis Karantonis greets voters outside Glebe Elementary School on Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Takis Karantonis will get another term on the Arlington County Board.

The Democratic incumbent decisively defeated his divided competition in the County Board race, which was conducted via ranked choice voting.

News

LIVE: Election results for governor, attorney general and other races affecting Arlington

By Dan Egitto

Published November 4, 2025 at 6:30PM

Campaign signs outside Yorktown High School (staff photo by Jared Serre)

As election results roll in tonight, ARLnow will be tracking the outcome of races affecting Arlington and Virginia as a whole.

Three of the highest offices in Virginia are on the ballot this year, as are three seats representing Arlington in the House of Delegates.