Of the 147 bills Virginia Conservation Network took a position on during this session, 18 addressed the fundamental policies governing our decision-makers and environmental policy for the Commonwealth. Our Partners advocated for policies that: 

• Reign in loose campaign finance laws
• Restore voting rights
• Protect ratepayers from rising energy costs
• Require environmental justice in local planning

See the wins and missed opportunities for equitable and inclusive governing policy below. You can see all the outcomes for VCN’s bill and budget positions on our Bill Tracker.

Virginia is one of only two states in the U.S. with zero restrictions on the personal use of campaign funds, meaning that candidates in Virginia can spend campaign contributions on vacations, mortgage payments, or even country club dues.  

After a decade of consideration, the General Assembly unanimously voted to ban the personal use of campaign funds to rein in Virginia’s loose campaign finance laws (HB2165 / SB1002). 

Virginia is one of the only states that permanently strips the voting rights of anyone convicted of a felony through one of the only remaining racist Jim Crow law that suppresses voting.  The amendment was added to Virginia’s Constitution in 1902 along with other amendments to suppress Black voters like literacy tests and poll taxes. 

Legislators passed a constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights once someone convicted of a felony has finished serving time and are re-entering society (HJ2 / SJ248). 

In Virginia, constitutional amendments must move through the General Assembly twice before being placed on voters’ ballots to be voted on and codified. Now that these have passed the General Assembly once, legislators must vote on them again next year to restore voting rights for more than 260,000 Virginians who have completed their sentences.

As we make the transition to a 100% clean energy future, it’s imperative we do so in the least cost manner. 

Legislators passed HB2663 / SB1336 to protect ratepayers from high utility bills. These bills allow Appalachian Power Company to securitize certain assets, a tool for lowering monthly bills, and require that customers not be charged late fees for 6 months or reconnection fees for 9 months.

Bills that passed the General Assembly now head to the Governor’s desk for him to sign, amend, or veto bills by March 24th. Legislators will make a final vote on amended bills during Veto Session on April 2nd to determine which bills will officially become law starting on July 1st, 2025. 

Be the first to know about new environmental legislation: register for our virtual General Assembly Recap on Thursday, April 3rd, from 12-1:30 PM. You’ll hear the inside scoop from environmental policy experts about the conservation community’s biggest victories, the missed opportunities, and any surprise outcomes from the 2025 General Assembly session.

See the outcomes of other environmental policies from the 2025 General Assembly session below: