We are now in Week five of the 2026 Legislative Session, marking the halfway point. I’m proud to report another productive week as we head toward one of the most significant deadlines in the legislative calendar: Crossover.
Crossover
Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, marks Crossover, a pivotal moment when House bills advance to the Senate and Senate bills come to the House. Occurring roughly halfway through the session, Crossover is the deadline for each chamber to act on its own legislation. Once bills reach their second chamber, they go through subcommittee, full committee, and, if successful, a floor vote. This phase is critical, as it determines which proposals will go to Governor Spanberger.
Reverend Bert Cloud
It was both an honor and a joy to introduce Reverend Bert Cloud, Pastor of Sterling United Methodist Church, who was joined by his wife, Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud, Pastor of Floris United Methodist Church. A Virginia native and former school psychologist, Reverend Cloud has spent more than three decades serving others, including twenty years in ministry marked by mentorship, congregational care, and spiritual leadership. Sterling United Methodist Church has always been a welcoming presence in our community, which I have had the chance to experience first-hand, reflecting Reverend Cloud’s thoughtful and compassionate leadership.
Public Opportunity to Serve the Commonwealth
Serving on a Virginia board or commission is a meaningful way to contribute to the Commonwealth and help shape public policy and agency oversight. Each year, hundreds of appointments are made to advisory, policy, and supervisory boards that play an important role in state government. These positions offer qualified individuals the opportunity to bring their expertise and perspective to public service. Below you will find information about the application process, appointment types, and what to expect if selected to serve.
Affordable Housing
As your Delegate, I remain committed to affordability, and I am proud to say that I have been working with my colleagues to tackle one of the biggest expenses families face each month: housing.
This week, we passed a package of commonsense housing bills designed to lower costs, cut unnecessary fees, cap excessive attorney costs, and remove unfair court barriers that make eviction cases harder for tenants to navigate. The package strengthens tenant protections by making rent, fees, and utilities more transparent, requiring clear rental agreements and disclosures, and preventing housing denials based solely on old or dismissed eviction cases. It also expands access to eviction diversion resources and recognizes air conditioning as an essential service.
We also passed legislation to support military families facing relocation orders and to protect survivors of family abuse, ensuring they are not penalized for violence committed against them.
This is what an Affordable Virginia looks like: lower housing costs, more stability, and a fairer system for families across the Commonwealth.
This Week at the General Assembly
Celebrating Nowruz
As an Iranian-American immigrant myself, Nowruz, meaning “new day,” is deeply personal to me. Celebrated for more than 3,000 years on the spring equinox, the Persian New Year is a symbol of renewal and hope. Today, however, people in Iran face brutal repression for demanding basic human rights, yet they continue to show extraordinary courage despite violence and loss. In that context, I am especially grateful to speak to the issue on the House floor and to continue standing in solidarity with the Iranian people, affirming our shared belief in freedom, human rights, and self-determination.
Update on My Legislation
As the legislative session continues, I am pleased to share an update on the bills on which I am serving as Chief Patron or Chief Co-Patron. This legislation reflects the priorities I hear from our community and my continued focus on delivering meaningful results.
Voting Rights
HB 71
Allows localities the option to respond to community needs in setting early voting hours for satellite locations. Continuing to 2027.
Economy
HB 557
Creates a business tax incentive for electric lawn equipment as a clean alternative to gas-powered equipment. Passed the House – 62-35.
HB 1021
Gives localities the authority they need to include affordable units in assisted living facilities. Continuing to 2027.
HB 1022
Protects Virginians from recurring payments for services they no longer want. Headed to the House Floor.
HB 594
Allows localities to adopt expedited, administrative zoning approvals for qualifying all-affordable housing developments that increase density and prioritizes such localities for state housing grants and loans. Passed the House – 89-10.
HB 402
Modernizes “home bakery” laws by removing sales limits and permitting online sales. Passed the House – 98-0.
Education
HB 125
Ensures year-round protection of teachers’ due process rights. Passed the House – 60-34.
HB 203
Establishes the Middle Eastern and North African Advisory Board to advise on further developing economic, professional, cultural, educational, and governmental links between the Commonwealth and the MENA community in Virginia. Continuing to 2027.
HB 814
Established a board to advise on social studies and history SOLs. Headed to the House Floor.
HB 1278
Ensures schools develop and share their language assistance plans so parents can be meaningfully included in the education of their children. Passed the House – 62-33.
HB 1367
Requires VDOE to report ELL spending data to ensure proper funding is allocated to cover the actual cost of education for English language learner students. Passed House – 64-31.
HB 1323
Directs the VDOE to update the state’s school accountability and performance framework, giving families clear explanations and tools to understand how student growth and performance are measured. Combined with HB 643.
HJ 77
Establishes Nowruz, the Persian New Year, as an annual day celebrated in Virginia. Passed the House – 94-1.
HB 31
Provides a $10,000 annual salary supplement to professionally licensed teachers working in Virginia’s highest-vacancy public schools to improve recruitment and retention. Laid on the table.
HB 201
Requires school boards to inform parents annually about the safe storage of prescription drugs and firearms in the home. Passed the House – 62-35.
HB 288
Requires the VDOE to post instructional resources on the Indigenous peoples of the Commonwealth developed by the Virginia Tribal Education Consortium. Passed the House – 86-12.
Community Safety
HB 123
Replaces mandatory juvenile license denials with judicial discretion, aligning consequences with rehabilitation rather than automatic punishment. Passed the House – 91-6.
HB 124
Ensures retired district court judges recalled to duty have the same protections as active judges. Headed to the House Floor.
HB 556
Amends the requirement to provide a Social Security Number when filing for divorce if one is not available. Passed the House – 86-11.
HB 1020
Ensures survivors of child sexual assault can pursue civil causes of action when new evidence emerges, strengthening accountability and public safety. Passed the House – 98-0.
HB 46
Increase the maximum number of circuit court judges in Loudoun, subject to Judicial Council review, to better meet caseload and judicial staffing needs. Combined with HB 443.
Health
HB 794
Designates VDH to lead the coordination of a statewide plan in response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis. Passed the House – 96-0.
HB 795
Requires health insurers to cover overdose reversal medication, expanding access to life-saving treatment. Passed the House – 96-0.
HB 1019
Ensures outpatient patient-level reporting so doctors can coordinate care more effectively. Headed to the House Floor.
Military Families and Veterans Affairs
HB 1018
Creates a Veterans Work Group to develop a holistic, strategic plan to better serve veterans and address their needs across the Commonwealth. Continuing to 2027.
HB 137
Expands and phases in Virginia income tax subtractions for military benefits, ultimately exempting all qualifying military retirement and survivor benefits from state income tax. Passed Subcommittee and referred to Appropriations.
HB 175
Expands Virginia’s real property tax exemption for surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty, allowing localities to provide a full exemption regardless of home value beginning in 2026. Passed the House – 99-0.
Budget Amendment
Provides funding to expand the V3 program to include military spouses.
If you are interested in looking at the legislative history and bill text of my proposals, you can view them on the Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS). LIS HERE
Resources to Take Part in the Legislative Session
Are you interested in watching the hearing for a bill you are particularly passionate about? Are you looking for a way to give testimony for bills that you support or oppose? Are you wondering what’s in the state’s budget? The General Assembly has these services and more to allow you to participate and view the entire General Assembly Session!
Virginia Legislative Information System (“LIS”)
The Virginia Legislative Information System tracks bills from their introduction to their passage! You can create lists of bills that interest you through the lobbyist in a box feature, look through the calendar to find when important bills are being heard, and see the overall stats of this session.
Virginia General Assembly Website
The General Assembly website streams every floor session, committee, and subcommittee meeting, gives a detailed explanation on how a bill becomes a law in Virginia, and showcases the history of the General Assembly and the Capitol Building. If you are interested in watching meetings of the General Assembly or learning more about our legislative process, you can find it on the link below.
How My Office Can Help You
Navigating state agencies can be confusing and difficult at times. As the delegate for House District 27, I can help you communicate with state agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission, Departments of Taxation, Social Services, Transportation, and more! I can also submit inquiries with those agencies on your behalf. There are limits to what I can do, however. For example, I am unable to expedite cases or force state agencies to favor your inquiry, provide legal advice or recommend a specific attorney, intervene with judicial issues, overturn decisions, or be involved with matters between private businesses.
Whether you require my office’s assistance, want to bring an issue to my attention or invite me to a community event, please reach out here: https://atoosareaser.com/help/.
Alongside constituent services, I can submit drafts for commending and memorial resolutions. If you know of a person or organization in the district that deserves special recognition, please submit a request here: resolution request form.
Yours in Service,
Atoosa Reaser (she/her)
Virginia House of Delegates
District 27 (Eastern Loudoun)
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