(The Center Square) – Virginia lawmakers opened the 2026 General Assembly session Wednesday by advancing four proposed constitutional amendments that legislative leaders moved through the House of Delegates early in the session.
During a Wednesday press conference at the General Assembly, legislators said the amendments were prioritized at the start of the session, with the House approving the measures and additional action expected in the Senate in the coming days.
Under Virginia law, constitutional amendments must be approved by the General Assembly during two separate legislative sessions, with an election held in between, before they can be placed on the ballot for voter consideration.
The House votes mark the second time the amendments have been approved by that chamber, with final legislative action still required in the Senate before the proposals can go to voters.
One proposed amendment would establish a fundamental right to reproductive freedom in the Virginia Constitution, while allowing the state to regulate abortion later in pregnancy under limited medical circumstances.
Another amendment would change how voting rights are restored for people with felony convictions. The proposal would automatically restore voting rights upon release from incarceration, removing the current requirement for a separate restoration process.
Lawmakers are also advancing a constitutional amendment that would remove language defining marriage as between one man and one woman and replace it with language recognizing marriage between two adult persons.
The fourth proposal addresses congressional redistricting. The amendment would allow the General Assembly to modify congressional district lines outside the standard 10-year redistricting cycle under limited circumstances.
Lawmakers have indicated that the abortion, voting rights and marriage amendments would appear on the November ballot, while the redistricting proposal is expected to go before voters in a separate April referendum because of election calendar deadlines.
Lawmakers said the redistricting proposal would not immediately redraw congressional lines. Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, chair of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, said lawmakers are still in the early stages of the process.
“We really are going to take this step by step, so we are not at the process of drawing that map yet, but that map will be available by Jan. 30,” Price said.
Democrats enter the 2026 session holding majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, as well as the governor’s office and other statewide executive offices.
All four constitutional amendments would require voter approval to take effect.
