Learn about the key issues we expect to see in the legislative session at a regional watch party or tune in virtually.
Save the date for VCN’s annual Conservation Lobby Day on Wednesday, January 22nd.
Register for VAIPL’s GA Lobbying 101 and Legislative Preview to learn about upcoming legislation and civic engagement tactics for your faith community.
Register for CBF’s VA General Assembly Legislative Preview to explore critical environmental policies related to clean water for the 2025 session.
Save the date for CBF’s annual Clean Water Lobby Day on Tuesday, January 14th.
Join VAIPL at the General Assembly and advocate for environmental and social justice on Wednesday, January 15th.
Save the date for Sierra Club and Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s Grassroots Climate Lobby Day on Thursday, January 16th.
Save the date for the Data Center Reform Coalition’s Data Center Lobby Day on Monday, January 20th.
Save the date for Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy’s Student Day of Action on Friday, January 31st.
2/5 & 2/6: ADVOCACY DAY
Save the date for Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action’s Advocacy Day on Wednesday, February 5th and Thursday, February 6th.
THE BASICS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Learn about the basics of the General Assembly with Jay Ford, the Virginia Policy Advisor for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Gain a deeper understanding of the processes and structures of the Virginia General Assembly and how you can get involved.
CITIZEN LOBBYING
Learn about the basics of citizen lobbying with Jessica Sims, the Virginia Field Coordinator at Appalachian Voices. Discover the power of advocating for policies that matter to you and your community and learn about effective lobbying practices.
UNDERSTANDING COMMITTEES
Learn about the committee process, the crucial role committees play in the legislative process, and why knowing how committees operate is key to advancing your legislation with Chris Leyen, the Policy Director for The Virginia League of Conservation Voters.
ENGAGING COMMITTEES AS A CITIZEN
Learn how to effectively engage with committees in the Virginia General Assembly with Connor Kish, Director of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter. Discover the advantages of the committee process and get valuable tips for impactful testimony.
THE VIRGINIA STATE BUDGET
Learn about the Virginia State Budget with Jay Ford, the Virginia Policy Advisor for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Explore the roles of the governor, General Assembly, and key committees in Virginia’s budget process and discover how funding directly influences conservation priorities.
VCN’S LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Learn about VCN’s legislative process with Mary Rafferty, Executive Director of the Virginia Conservation Network. Discover how our network of 160 partners influences policy on key environmental issues.
Our General Assembly Advocacy Guide is a booklet providing an overview of Virginia’s legislative session for advocates. Download the guide for details on
- The timeline of Virginia’s legislative process throughout the year;
- How to track bills during session;
- The budget process;
- Getting to know your legislator;
- How to lobby as a constiuent, and more!
There are no stupid questions when it comes to Virginia’s General Assembly process! For more specific questions on Virginia’s General Assembly, please visit the Virginia General Assembly website and see “Visiting Capitol” & “Related Content / FAQs” and “Designated Dates and Meeting Schedules.”
Virginia’s General Assembly is the legislative body of the state. The General Assembly’s responsibilities include reviewing and passing or rejecting bills and laws, approving the state budget, levying taxes, and confirming appointments by the Governor. The General Assembly is a bicameral legislature, and consists of elected officials from the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia.
House and Senate meetings typically occur in the General Assembly Building and Capitol Building extension. Daily floor sessions are held in the respective chambers on the second floor of the Capitol Building.
The General Assembly Building is located at 201 North 9th Street Richmond, VA, 23219 and is open weekdays from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Non-credentialed lobbyists, media, and members of the public can enter at the Broad Street Entrance. During Legislative Sessions, the General Assembly Building will open at 6:00 AM.
You can find out who your legislators are by using the Virginia General Assembly’s “Who’s My Legislator?” service.
VCN’s bill tracker shares the positions and talking points of bills supported or opposed by Virginia’s conservation community.
You can find all of the General Assembly’s legislation on the Legislative Information Services (LIS) website.
Before, during, or after the legislative session, you can find the phone numbers, emails, and office addresses for your Senator HERE and your Delegate HERE. Using this information, you can schedule a meeting with your legislator. During Session, it is often quicker to call your legislator’s Capitol office number to request a meeting.
When calling: state who you are, if you are a constituent, why you want to meet. Most importantly, be friendly. You may also need to follow up by calling back or sending an email.
These meetings are brief, so you should narrow your argument down to a few key points . If you have multiple people attending, make sure everyone has a role during the meeting. During the meeting, focus on tying your particular issue to a story and real individuals in your legislator’s district. Personalizing your argument will make it more memorable for your Legislator.
Keep it short – a minute or two at the most. Additionally, finish with a specific ask. You don’t want to merely ask your legislator to “support conservation initiatives” or something else vague. Have a yes or no question prepared. For example, “Will you support/introduce/sponsor legislation to fund the Chesapeake Bay cleanup?” Most importantly, be friendly and cordial throughout the meeting!
After you meet with your legislator, follow up with an email, letter, or even a card thanking your legislator for their time. You should stay in contact with your legislator by sending a thank you for positive action, a gentle reminder for neutral action, and a friendly (as possible) show of disappointment for negative action.
Always remember that by keeping in touch with your legislator regarding your priority issues, you are doing them a favor. State and local legislators do not hear from their constituents as often as you might imagine, so your request and your persistence will stand out and remind them of the important work that needs to be done in their district.
The 2024 General Assembly session began on Wednesday, January 10th, at noon. Each year’s session typically begins in January and ends in February or March of each year. On years ending with an odd number, the General Assembly convenes for 30 days (called a “short” session); on years ending with an even number, the General Assembly convenes for 60 days (called a “long” session).
You can view key dates for the 2024 General Assembly on VACO here: https://www.vaco.org/capitol-contact/key-dates-for-the-2024-general-assembly/
The Capitol is located in Richmond, VA. at 1000 Bank Street Richmond, VA 23219. For specific directions, please call (804) 698-1788 or see the Virginia General Assembly visitor information web page for details.
The General Assembly Building is located at 201 North 9th Street Richmond, VA, 23219.
Please note there is no public parking on the Capitol Square grounds. Pay parking lots and decks are nearby on 9th and Bank Streets, 8th and Grace Streets, and 7th and Marshall Streets. Downloadable maps of nearby parking lots and decks are available. Click here to read more.
Private vehicles with handicap placards or plates are able to unload passengers on Bank Street near the new public entrance at 10th Street. Five parking spaces zoned for handicapped drivers are located on the north side of Bank Street, between 9th and 10th Streets with a two hour limit. There is also a Paid Parking Deck adjacent to the Capitol.
Additional accommodations can still be made for those needing accessibility accommodations and are arriving via a passenger vehicle by calling (804) 698-1788 to arrange for drop-off inside Capitol Square.
The Pocahontas Building is scheduled to be torn down after the General Assembly officially moves to its new offices for the 2024 legislative session.
The Capitol and General Assembly Building are both ADA-compliant. Individuals, groups, and visitors with special needs may enter the General Assembly Building through the Broad Street entrance. Please ring the bell located at that door and the Capitol Police will provide entry. The building has wheelchair-accessible restrooms, ramps, and elevators. There is barrier-free access on all floors. If you need additional assistance, please ask security or Capitol Police who will be present as you enter the building.
Individuals desiring the use of an interpreter during committee meetings should contact Senate Committee Operations at (804) 698-7450 or Committeeoperations@senate.virginia.gov and House Committee Operations at (804) 698-1540 or CommitteeOps@house.virginia.gov for assistance. Individuals requiring the services of an interpreter should make this request known as far in advance as possible since legislative proceedings will not be delayed to provide this accommodation. Larger committee rooms are equipped with a personal listening system. Individuals may check out a receiver for use during meetings. The TDD number for the Senate is toll-free 1(866) 267-1474 and the House is (804) 786-2369. Additional information is available in the Virginia General Assembly Policy: Accessibility for Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.