Freedom Virginia — a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to building a Commonwealth where all families have the financial freedom to thrive — works to advance economic security policies and support those legislative champions in electoral races. This session, Freedom Virginia tracked votes on key bills that would ensure hardworking Virginians can get ahead in a more fair and affordable economy. The legislation would have impacted areas including health care, paid leave, labor and consumer protection, taxes, child care and housing.
Virginians should know what votes their legislators took this session on issues that would lower costs for people across the commonwealth. All of the bills included in the scorecard will ensure hardworking families can keep more of their hard-earned money, including by lowering the cost of medicine, providing paid medical leave in the event of health and family emergencies, and expanding access to affordable child care and housing.
Freedom Virginia is highlighting the following leaders as champions and allies of our policy agenda. Legislators are chosen both from their affirmative votes for economic security policies and if they are the chief or co-patron on four or more of our priority bills.
Legislators of the Year
Senator Jennifer Boysko
Delegate Briana Sewell
Affordability Champions
Senator Creigh Deeds
Senator Mamie Locke
Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg
Senator Saddam Salim
Senator David Suetterlein
Speaker Don Scott
Chairman Luke Torian
Delegate Ellen Campbell
Delegate Paul Krizek
Delegate Vivian Watts
Economic Security Allies
Senator Lamont Bagby
Senator Kannan Srinivasan
Delegate Bonita Anthony
Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker
Delegate Katrina Callsen
Delegate Betsy Carr
Delegate Nadarius Clark
Delegate Josh Cole
Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler
Delegate Rae Cousins
Delegate Mike Feggans
Delegate Cliff Hayes
Delegate Dan Helmer
Delegate Rozia Henson
Delegate Phil Hernandez
Majority Leader Charniele Herring
Delegate Patrick Hope
Delegate Michael Jones
Delegate Karen Keys-Gamarra
Delegate Destiney LeVere Bolling
Delegate Alfonso Lopez
Delegate Michelle Maldonado
Delegate Marty Martinez
Delegate Adele McClure
Delegate Candi Mundon-King
Delegate Marcia “Cia” Price
Delegate Sam Rasoul
Delegate Holly Seibold
Delegate Irene Shin
Delegate Kathy Tran
Delegate Jeion Ward
Delegate Rodney Willett
Lowering the Cost of Medicine
Prescription Drug Affordability Board – HB 1724
This bipartisan legislation would lower the cost of medicine for Virginians by creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, an independent body of health and medical experts appointed by the Governor, House, and Senate. The board would use proven data-based strategies already working in other states to understand the root causes of high medicine costs, including input from manufacturers, PBMs, insurers, and other stakeholders, when determining the affordability of selected drugs.
In January of 2025, pharmaceutical companies raised the prices of 970 name-brand prescription drugs. Due to these high costs, Virginians are forced to choose between life-saving medications and other essentials, like groceries or rent. The PDAB would deliver cost benefits to 7+ million Virginians who are not eligible for savings under current Medicare price negotiations.
HB 1724:
Vote History here
Investing in Hardworking Virginians
Paid Family & Medical Leave – SB 1122 & HB 2531
A Paid Family Medical Leave program in Virginia would create an insurance program financed by small contributions from employers and employees to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave with up to 80% wage replacement and health care protection when experiencing events like a new baby, serious illness or injury. Virginia is the only state in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area that does not have a guaranteed paid leave program.
3.4 million Virginia workers do not have access to Paid Family and Medical Leave. A typical Virginia worker taking 4 weeks of unpaid leave could lose up to $3,700 in income. Establishing Paid Family Medical Leave would mean Virginians are not forced to choose between financial security and caring for themselves and their families when life-changing medical events arise.
SB 1122: Left in House Labor & Commerce
Vote History here
HB 2531: Vetoed by the Governor
Vote History here
Lowering the Cost of Living
Banning Hidden Fees – SB 1212 & HB 2515
A “hidden fee” is any mandatory fee for which the consumer does not receive a good or service. These bills would require all mandatory fees and charges to be clearly included upfront in the advertised and displayed price of any good or service. Hidden fees exist across the economy, but consumers often see them in live-event ticketing, hotels, rental cars, cable and cell phone bills, utilities, and rent.
Consumers feel the impact of hidden fees across the economy; on average, families lose $3,200 a year to hidden fees on purchases. Hidden fees often harm responsible businesses, especially small ones that price their products fairly and transparently. This bill addresses unfair price gouging of hardworking Virginians and ensures consumers know the total price of something upfront.
SB 1212: Governor’s Amendments Rejected
Vote History here
HB 2515: Governor’s Amendments Rejected
Vote History here
Creating a Fair Tax System
Millionaire’s Tax – HB 2333
A “Millionaire’s Tax” would create a new tax bracket for income earned over $1 million annually, which would only apply to 0.4% of Virginia’s more than 4 million tax filers. The bill stipulates that revenue would go towards funding K-12 education, child care subsidy programs, and the Virginia Housing Trust Fund.
In Virginia, teachers and millionaires are in the same tax bracket. The Millionaire’s Tax would ensure hardworking Virginians can get ahead and that the ultra-wealthy are held accountable for paying their fair share.
HB 2333: Left in House Finance
Vote History here
Saving Parents Money
Child Tax Credit – SB 1378 & HB 2180
A Child Tax Credit (CTC) in Virginia would create a $300 one-time tax credit to Virginia families for each child under 12 in their household. The CTC would save parents money and ensure they could keep more of what they earn to help pay for the care and education of their children.
SB 1378: Passed by indefinitely in Senate Finance and Appropriations
Vote History here
HB 2180: Passed House Finance, Left in House Appropriations
Vote History here
Dedicated Child Care Funding Formula – SB 756 & HB 2538
These bills would require the Department of Education to establish and maintain a funding formula to support quality, affordable, and accessible child care for hardworking parents that are struggling right now to balance the demands of family and making money.
SB 756: Left in Senate Finance & Appropriations
Vote History here
HB 2538: Passed by indefinitely in Senate Finance & Appropriations
Vote History here
Making Housing More Accessible & Affordable
First Time Homebuyer’s Grant Program – HB 1598
The first-time homebuyer’s grant program would provide a $10,000 one-time, nonrefundable grant to an individual, or a couple filing jointly, who is buying a home for the first time. This bill would allow more Virginians to own a home. Hardworking families need solutions that will lower the cost of housing, not line the pockets of greedy developers and landlords who have profited off of jacking up home prices or rents.
HB 1598: Included in the General Assembly Conference Budget
Vote History here
SB183: Continued to 2025 in Senate Finance & Appropriations
Vote History here
Other Bills We Supported That Would Ensure Accessible and Affordable Housing
Housing Near Jobs – SB 839
Requiring Localities to Increase Housing Stock – SB 975 & HB 2641
Faith in Housing (Mandatory) – SB 1351
ADUs Statewide (Mandatory) – SB 932 & HB 1832
Prohibiting Algorithmic Price Fixing – SB 1400 & HB 1870
Prohibiting Algorithmic Price Fixing and Directing Study – HB 2047
Anti-Rent Gouging – SB 1136 & HB 2175
Restricts Partnership, Corporation, or Trust from Buying Single Family Home – SB 1140 & SB 1424
Amendments to Expand Virginians’ Freedoms
Reproductive Freedom Constitutional Amendment – SJ 247 & HJ 1
These constitutional amendments ensure an individual’s right to reproductive freedom and the right to make one’s own decisions about all matters related to reproductive care, including pregnancy, contraception, and IVF. These amendments have been agreed upon by the General Assembly and will need to be agreed upon a second time next session.
SJ 247: Agreed Upon for the First Time by the General Assembly
Vote History here
HJ 1: Agreed Upon for the First Time by the General Assembly
Vote History here
Marriage Equality Constitutional Amendment – SJ 294 & HJ 9
These constitutional amendments define marriage as being between two adult persons, repeal same-sex marriage prohibition, and affirm the right to marry. These amendments have been agreed upon by the General Assembly and will need to be agreed upon a second time next session.
SJ 249: Agreed Upon for the First Time by the General Assembly
Vote History here
HJ 9: Agreed Upon for the First Time by the General Assembly
Vote History here
Fundamental Right to Vote Constitutional Amendment – SJ 248 & HJ 2
These constitutional amendments provide that every person who meets the qualifications of voters set forth in the Constitution of Virginia shall have the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth, except for persons who have been convicted of a felony and persons who have been adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. These amendments have been agreed upon by the General Assembly and will need to be agreed upon a second time next session.
SJ 248: Agreed Upon for the First Time by the General Assembly
Vote History here
HJ 2: Agreed Upon for the First Time by the General Assembly
Vote History here
Bills We Opposed
Legalizes Skill Games- SB 1322 & SB 1323
These bills would have legalized currently illegal slot-machine-like “skill games.” Skill games are disproportionately placed in underserved communities, exploiting low-income communities in order to generate profit. We believe that instead, the ultra-wealthy and big corporations should pay their fair share in taxes to fund the right priorities, like education and health care.
SB 1322: Left in Senate Finance & Appropriations
Vote History here
SB 1323: Left in Senate Finance & Appropriations
Vote History here
View the 2024 Affordability Scorecard HERE.
