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Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a broad package of health care, housing and energy legislation Wednesday, including several measures sponsored by Fairfax County lawmakers that could affect contraception access, utility bills, data center emissions and protections against service shutoffs.
The Democratic governor has approved hundreds of bills since the 2026 General Assembly session ended March 14. She faces an April 13 deadline to sign, veto or amend the remaining legislation.
Spanberger said the latest laws are intended to ease living costs for families across Virginia.
“Virginians deserve results when it comes to contending with the high cost of living,” she said.
Contraception protections become state law
Senate Bill 596 from Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, whose district includes southern Fairfax County, and companion House Bill 6 from Newport News Del. Cia Price establish a right to use contraception and protect doctors’ ability to prescribe methods approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The legislation covers options including condoms, birth control pills, intrauterine devices and emergency contraception.
Carroll Foy said the law protects essential health care choices and affirms that contraception decisions belong to patients rather than politicians.
Fairfax lawmakers target energy costs
Several measures sponsored by Fairfax County legislators address rising energy demand and household affordability.
House Bill 1360 from Herndon Del. Irene Shin unanimously cleared the legislature. It requires investor-owned electric utilities to disclose more information about coal- and oil-powered generating units during rate cases before the State Corporation Commission, including how long the units operate and what those operations cost.
House Bill 683 from Del. Charniele Herring, whose district includes Seven Corners and Bailey’s Crossroads, creates a Solar Interconnection Grant Program. The program will help local governments and schools pursue solar projects to reduce energy expenses. Spanberger also signed its companion measure, Senate Bill 659.
Another Herring measure, House Bill 770, and Senate Bill 650 from Sen. Dave Marsden of Annandale and Springfield will allow utilities to seek approval for discounted rates for low-income customers.
Utilities could recover the cost of those discounts through rates charged to commercial and industrial customers, potentially including heavy electricity users such as data centers. The legislation takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, six months later than the July 1 effective date that applies to many bills from the session.
House Bill 1002 from Del. Kathy Tran, whose district stretches from Springfield into parts of Lorton, restricts certain utilities from disconnecting residential service before attempting to arrange a payment plan or connect the customer with bill-assistance or energy-saving programs.
The law also requires translated notices in localities that distribute election materials in multiple languages.
Spanberger signed additional energy legislation requiring Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to develop voluntary demand-flexibility programs for customers with high energy needs. House Bill 284 and Senate Bill 371 received bipartisan support.
House Bill 507 establishes tougher emissions standards for data center generators, while House Bill 242 prevents public utilities from raising monthly payments more than once per year for customers using budget plans. Both passed with bipartisan backing.
House Bill 1144 allows local governments to reduce or waive water and sewer fees for first-time homebuyers and affordable housing developments.
Housing measures expand local options
The newly signed housing legislation gives communities additional ways to encourage and preserve affordable homes.
House Bill 867 and Senate Bill 74 allow every locality to adopt an affordable housing program. House Bill 352 permits performance-based grants designed to encourage affordable housing construction, while House Bill 594 streamlines approval of certain affordable developments.
House Bill 164 and Senate Bill 328 remove limits on homeownership grants, giving localities more flexibility to help employees live in the communities where they work.
House Bill 806 expands the number of industrial development authorities that can finance affordable housing. House Bill 15 and Senate Bill 48 strengthen protections for Virginia renters, including a longer required waiting period before landlords can pursue eviction.
Most of the housing measures passed with support from both parties.
Health laws address delays and specialized care
House Bill 736, approved unanimously, limits prior-authorization requirements that can delay access to prescription drugs and other care.
House Bill 424 and Senate Bill 745 prohibit health insurers from stopping in-network providers from referring patients to in-network clinical laboratories or pathology providers. Both chambers passed the measures unanimously.
House Bill 425 expands Medicaid telemedicine access for patients with high-risk pregnancies and pregnant patients who are at least 35 years old.
House Bill 456 and Senate Bill 291 seek to improve care for premature or ill infants. The legislation passed unanimously.
Spanberger said more work remains as she continues reviewing bills before the April 13 deadline, with affordability remaining a central focus.