Dems celebrate as 2025 General Assembly Session comes to an end, Republicans left feeling less optimistic

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) - The 2025 General Assembly Session is officially in the rearview mirror.

“I think we kept all of our promises,” House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott told 8News. 

Democrats, who narrowly controlled both the House of Delegates and Virginia Senate, celebrated their accomplishments which included getting the ball rolling on three proposed constitutional amendments that would enshrine reproductive rights in the state constitution, giving convicted felons their civil rights back upon release from prison and removing a ban on same-sex marriage from the state constitution. 

“The ability to marry who you love, be able to vote after you have served time, and reproductive health and reproductive rights, to have dominion over your own body, those are important to freedom,” said House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria).

Democrats also highlighted the passage of several measures they say will put more money in Virginia’s pockets, including a bill to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027. 

“We made sure that we created a first-class economy where everybody has a chance to compete and live up to their god-given abilities,” Speaker Scott said. 

However, Republicans called out Democrats for failing to pass legislation they say would lower Virginia’s electric bills. 

“Some of us feel like we need more baseload energy,” said Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover). “That means nuclear and natural gas.”

Additionally, Republicans are hoping Governor Glenn Youngkin will veto several measures they said will actually raise costs on Virginians, including one that would create a state-run paid family and medical leave program that Virginians would have to pay into.

“Our Democratic friends have put in a lot of bills that tax employees, put new burdens on businesses, and create additional tax through energy and other ways for Virginians,” McDougle told 8News. 

Aside from constitutional amendments, Youngkin will have until March 24th to consider legislation passed by the General Assembly. 

Meanwhile, lawmakers could be back in Richmond sooner than expected. That’s because Democrats used a procedural move that would allow them to come back to Richmond at any time to address any potential federal funding cuts made by the Trump administration.