Virginia Senate Democrat files right-to-work repeal bill

Democratic state Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy has filed legislation to repeal Virginia’s right-to-work law, potentially sparking an intraparty conflict with Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.

During her gubernatorial campaign, moderate Democrat Spanberger said multiple times that she did not support repealing Virginia’s right-to-work law but would consider making reforms to it.

Supporters of the right-to-work law say Virginia would lose its national reputation as a business-friendly state and would suffer financial losses if it repeals the law.

“I know there are those who think you can be pro-business or pro-worker, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some people in this room that hold that opinion, but I reject that idea,” Spanberger said in an October speech at a Virginia Chamber conference. “We can do both.”

Carroll Foy, D-Woodbridge, is chief patron of Senate Bill 32, which would repeal parts of the Code of Virginia that prohibit agreements between employers and unions that require union membership as a condition of employment or continuation of employment.

Sponsored by Senate Finance Chair Louise Lucas, the bill would codify an incremental increase to the state’s minimum wage, raising it from $12.77/hour as of Jan. 1, 2026, to $13.75 on Jan. 1, 2027, and $15 on Jan. 1, 2028. As of Jan. 1, 2029, and annually thereafter, the legislation would require the state’s minimum wage to be adjusted to reflect increases in the consumer price index.

In addition to the minimum wage legislation, Senate Democrats are putting forward bills that would require the Virginia Employment Commission to establish a paid family and medical leave insurance program starting January 2029, and establish a pilot program for employers to make child care contributions for their employees that the state would match.

If passed, the Employee Child Care Assistance Program would be administered by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. The bill, carried by Sen. Lashrecse D. Aird, would require the VECF to provide an interim report to the General Assembly by Sept. 1, 2028, and a final report by Sept. 1, 2030.

“Affordability is the issue we hear about more than any other,” Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie E. Locke said in a statement. “Senate Democrats are focused on tackling the costs that strain family budgets and block opportunity. We are prepared with strong legislation that improves economic security and supports working families that strengthens Virginia.”

Legislators included $25 million in a state budget amendment this year to launch a pilot of the child care assistance program, but Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed the amendment.

“The Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program is not expected to have an impact on the [Child Care Subsidy Program] waitlist this biennium because of the timing required to implement the program and the requirements attached to these funds. … This effort is best considered in a bill and at a smaller scale to determine program effectiveness and scalability,” Youngkin said in a statement in May.

For the first time since 2022, Virginia Democrats will control both legislative bodies and hold the governorship and the lieutenant governor and attorney general posts in January 2026.

Democrats increased their 51-seat House of Delegates majority to 64 seats in November’s elections. Although the state Senate’s party makeup is likely to remain the same in 2026, Hashmi’s Henrico-Chesterfield Senate seat must be filled in a special election likely to take place before the GA session starts. However, her district is considered strongly Democratic.

The 60-day session is set to begin Jan. 14, three days before Spanberger’s inauguration.