Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs 10 executive orders on first day

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed into law 10 executive orders, many of which target affordability for Virginians regarding living expenses, healthcare and housing on her first day in office.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, Spanberger was sworn into office as Virginia's first female governor. On Day One, she signed 10 executive orders at the state capitol to mark the beginning of her term, according to a press release.

Spanberger's first three orders included directing the executive branches and the secretaries to find ways to reduce Virginia's living expenses for families, creating a task force to reduce healthcare costs and requiring a review of regulations and practices that support housing development and decrease housing costs.

Other orders that were signed include continuing Virginia's growth in public schools, assisting workers and businesses in Virginia with the cutback on federal workers, tariffs and healthcare cuts and ensuring Virginia's communities stay safe.

“My administration is getting to work on Day One to address the top-of-mind challenges facing families by lowering costs for Virginians in every community, building a stronger economy for every worker, and making sure that every student in the Commonwealth receives a high-quality education that sets them up for success," said Spanberger in the release. "These executive orders represent the first steps in our work to create a stronger, safer, and — critically — more affordable future for our Commonwealth.”

Spanberger's Day One executive orders include:

Statewide Affordability Directive

This order required the secretaries and all executive branch agencies to submit a report that would reduce living costs in Virginia within 90 days. This includes savings in areas such as housing, healthcare, energy, education, childcare and everyday expenses.

Interagency Health Financing Task Force

This order established the cross-agency Interagency Health Financing Task Force located within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, which seeks to maximize federal funding, identify services most at risk of losing funds and strengthen the state's health care infrastructure.

Housing Development Regulation Review

This order created a review of regulations and practices that affect housing developments to get rid of unnecessary requirements, streamline approvals and reduce restrictions on housing production. It also established a Commission on Unlocking Housing Protection to assist the governor on ways to increase housing supplies. This commission will work with agencies to recommend legislative, regulatory and administrative changes to improve Virginia's housing supply.

High Quality Public Education Directive

This order is targeted to improve academics in Virginia by directing the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to strengthen schools in literacy, mathematics, school accountability and assessment. Workgroups will be implemented to improve the Virginia Literacy Act and expand efforts for advanced mathematics. VDOE will also review data from the 2025 JLARC report to improve schools for students, educators and families.

This order also affirms the rights and protections for students, parents and teachers to produce the best educational experience for the community, regardless of background. As well as directing state leaders to assist local school divisions with promoting accessibility, preventing discrimination, closing opportunity gaps and supporting student well-being, according to the release. The Secretary of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction will also conduct a statewide listening tour to learn directly from students, parents, educators, superintendents and school leaders about classroom success and challenges.

Federal Impact Assessment

This order established the Economic Resiliency Task Force, which will respond to federal workforce firings, funding cuts, tariffs and immigration impacts. It also directs agencies to implement the changes to Medicaid and SNAP, while also protecting access, expanding job placement for displaced federal workers and contractors and creating ways to grow agriculture and forestry exports within Virginia.

Board of Visitors Appointment Process Reviews

This order directed VDOE and the Secretary of the Commonwealth to review and discuss any appointed member for higher education's governing boards. It will also require a report to the governor on "potential legislative or policy changes to terms, reappointments, start dates and the evaluation process for appointees," per the release.

State of Emergency Authority

This order created a group consisting of the Chief of Staff and select designated cabinet officials, with the authority to declare a state of emergency and activate the Virginia National Guard if the governor is unavailable. However, the order allows the governor to continue having full authority at any time.

Chief of Staff Authority and Responsibility

This order states that planning, budgetary, personnel and administrative authority is vested in the Chief of Staff, but the governor will still make the final decision on key matters. As well as allowing the Chief of Staff to act on major policy, budget and personnel issues and run the governor's office when they are unavailable.

Equal Opportunity Policy

It created a non-discrimination policy across the state government that prohibits discrimination in employment, appointments, procurement and public services on a broad range of certain characteristics, as well as veterans and people with disabilities.

Law Enforcement

This order revoked Executive Order 47, which required and encouraged state and local law enforcement to use resources to enforce federal immigration laws. It encouraged public safety across Virginia by requiring law enforcement to focus on criminal activity, staffing jails and community engagement, per the release.