The Virginia Bar Association is devoted to improving Virginia law. This benefits the public and strengthens the administration of justice. The VBA actively proposes legislation, informs lawmakers and appears at hearings in the Virginia General Assembly to support recommended changes.

The VBA Legislative Agenda each year bubbles up through the membership and through affiliated groups. VBA sections and committees discuss proposals they receive from their members and may recommend that the VBA Board of Governors include certain suggestions to improve the law in the organization's agenda.

The VBA also considers proposals from the Boyd-Graves Conference and the Virginia Family Law Coalition and may advocate for changes on their behalf.

2025 Legislative Agenda

The VBA Board of Governors approved 10 proposals from four sections, plus additional bill recommendations from the Boyd-Graves Conference and the Virginia Family Law Coalition for its 2025 legislative agenda.  

The 2025 General Assembly session begins Jan. 8.

The VBA legislative team is from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. Eric Link leads the team.

The VBA's legislative team also provides bill progress updates on the legislative agenda during the session.

2024 Legislative Success

The VBA Board of Governors approved 21 bill proposals to support for the 2024 General Assembly session, which opened Jan. 10. When the session adjourned, Legislative Counsel Eric Link shared this message about the VBA's activity.

Seventeen of the bills were approved, including one that bill received Gov. Glenn Youngkin's recommendations, which were accepted by lawmakers at their reconvened session April 17. Four were left behind during the regular General Assembly session.

See how each of the bills fared.

VBA members who become aware of proposed legislation that they believe of interest to the association are encouraged to contact Executive Director Paul Fletcher.

Section-Specific Legislative Reports

As a benefit of section membership, these individuals receive summaries of bills prepared for consideration by the Virginia General Assembly shortly after the end of the regular session. The summaries are specific to the practice areas of each section. They can be helpful in flagging legislative actions of importance to member lawyers and their clients. VBA members can add a section to their membership at any time. VBA membership is a prerequisite to joining a section. Annual section dues are $35 per calendar year.

Join Our Sections!

For up-to-date information on bill status, or information on bills dating to 1994, visit the Virginia Legislative Information System

Find earlier VBA lobbying results on the legislative archives page.

Full Judicial Funding

In 2010, Virginia imposed a freeze on the automatic replacement of judges who leave the bench.The VBA has been a vocal proponent since then for the funding and filling of all judicial vacancies in Virginia. A full judiciary is important to the economy and to citizens’ access to justice. An independent study of caseloads found a shortage of judges in all three levels of courts. Learn more.

Affiliated Groups

VBA Commission on the Needs of Children

This interdisciplinary group focuses on policies and legislation to improve the lives of Virginia children.

Virginia Family Law Coalition

These practitioners work to influence family law legislation in Virginia.

Boyd-Graves Conference

The Boyd-Graves Conference seeks to improve civil justice in Virginia through law reform.

Uniform Law Commission

Virginians serving on the Uniform Law Commission occasionally request VBA lobbying assistance for legislative proposals.

Non-Legislative Advocacy

Debates

Since 1985, the VBA has organized first-of-the-season debates featuring candidates for statewide office. The debates, spotlighting primarily the races for governor and U.S. Senate, generally occur at the VBA Summer Meeting in the Allegheny Mountains. They are open to the public and news media at no charge. In recent years, the VBA has arranged for the debates to be broadcast live on the internet and re-broadcast on public radio as a public service.

Judicial Screenings

Three committees of VBA members review submissions of judicial hopefuls and recommend qualified candidates for federal and appellate judgeships.

• Committee on Federal Judgeships - Eastern District
• Committee on Federal Judgeships – Western District
• Committee on Nominations to Virginia Commissions & Appellate Courts