The General Assembly convenes today for a scheduled 60-day session.
Key dates for the 2026 session, as approved by the Joint Rules Committee in the procedural resolution setting out the schedule for the session, are as follows:
- Wednesday, January 14: General Assembly convenes; pre-filed bills must be submitted by 10:00 a.m. (after the prefiling deadline, legislators are limited to five additional bills or resolutions). Last day to submit bills creating or continuing a study or to submit bills dealing with the Virginia Retirement System. Governor Youngkin will address a joint session of the General Assembly at 7 p.m.
- Friday, January 16: Deadline to submit budget amendments.
- Saturday, January 17: Inauguration of Governor-Elect Spanberger, Lieutenant Governor-Elect Hashmi, and Attorney General-Elect Jones.
- Monday, January 19: Joint session of the General Assembly for remarks by Governor Spanberger.
- Friday, January 23: Last day to submit legislation, other than bills submitted by unanimous consent or bills requested by the Governor.
- Tuesday, February 17: Last day for bills to be acted upon in their chambers of origin, other than the budget bills. Bills must “cross over” to the opposite chamber by Wednesday, February 18.
- Sunday, February 22: “Budget Sunday” deadline for House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations committees to report their respective budget proposals.
- Thursday, February 26: Deadline for each chamber to act on its respective budget proposal.
- Wednesday, March 4: Deadline for each chamber to act on budget and revenue bills from the other chamber and appoint conferees as necessary.
- Monday, March 9: Deadline for committee action on all legislation by midnight.
- Saturday, March 14: Scheduled adjournment sine die.
- Wednesday, April 22: Reconvened session to consider Governor’s actions on bills and budget items.
VACo Contact: Katie Boyle