Language Access

We support proposals that support linguistically marginalized Virginians to have equal access to voting, navigate public education, and get services from state agencies.

* linguistically-marginalized: groups and individuals who “use any dominant spoken or sign language, and are not fully proficient in the dominant language,” which in the U.S. is English.

SUPPORT

HB 1278 / SB 685

Parental Guidance to Navigate Public Education is limited for parents who are linguistically marginalized; this requires school boards to develop and implement language access plans.

🥳 Both bills have PASSED committee and are on their way to the House and Senate floors!

Full text: HB 1278 (Del. Reaser) / SB 685 (Sen. Pekarsky)

HB 967

Amend the Voting Rights Act to lower the threshold from 10,000 to 5,000 voters for a locality to provide in-language materials.

🥳 This bill has PASSED in committee and is now on its way to the House floor!

Full text: HB 967 (Del. Price)

HB 1009 / Item 74 #2h

Fund language access in Virginia State Agencies to improve the consistency of services, creation of materials, and fully staff language access programs.

🔜 HB 1009 ultimately did not pass, but Item 74 #2h has been proposed to be added to the state budget.

Full text: HB 1009 (Del. Tran) / Item 74 #2h (Del. Tran)

Healthcare Access

Affordable healthcare was a top 5 issue for Asian American voters in Virginia. Although federal, state, and local coverage options exist, access is not a guarantee for all Virginians. We support to increase funding for healthcare safety facilities and access to safety net programs.

We are a proud member of the Healthcare For All Virginians Coalition.

SUPPORT

282 #1h, 291 #50h / 282 #3s, 282 #9s

Fund Free Clinics and FQHC’s to ensure our health safety net facilities have the support they need to care for our most vulnerable.

Full text: 282 #1h, 291 #50h (Del. Willet) / 282 #3s, 282 #9s (Sen. Locke)

290 #1h, 291 #76h / 290 #1s, 291 #1s

Protect Virginia Medicaid and CHIP from cuts. Including comprehensive prenatal, labor and delivery, and 60 day postpartum coverage through the FAMIS Prenatal Program to pregnant individuals who are not eligible for other public coverage options due to immigration status and adequate Medicaid reimbursement rates to promote a larger and robust provider network to fit individuals’ transportation needs, language preferences, and more.

Full text: 290 #1h, 291 #76h (Del. Tran) / 290 #1s, 291 #1s (Sen. Favola)

Economic Justice

Improving the economy is a top 3 issue for Asian American voters. We support the fair treatment and protection of low-income Asian American Virginians. This includes supporting proposals to authorize anti-rent gouging policies by localities, make home ownership more affordable for first-time buyers, prevent unnecessary evictions; and addressing working conditions, wages and income inequality.

We are a proud member of Tax Fairness for All Virginians.

SUPPORT

HB 278 / SB 355

Anti-Rent Gouging: Allowing localities to limit rent increases.

🔜 Both bills CONTINUED to 2027. Look out for actions to take next year!

Full text: HB 278 (Del. Clark) / SB 355 (Sen. Boysko)

HB 15 / SB 48

Give Families 14-Days to Pay Rent: Allowing tenants more time to pay their rent prevents avoidable evictions, as it stands 5-days is not realistic for working families.

🔜 HB 15 PASSED in House and is PENDING in Senate Committee

🔜SB 48 PASSED in Senate and is PENDING in House Committee

Full text: HB 15 (Del. Price) / SB 48 (Sen. Rouse)

HB 1 / SB 1

Raising the Minimum Wage to $15/hour by January 2028.

🔜 HB 1 PASSED in House and is PENDING in Senate Committee.

🥳 SB 1 PASSED committee and is now on its way to the Senate floor!

Full text: HB 1 (Del. Ward) / SB 1 (Sen. Lucas)

HB 1074 / HB 188 / HB 979

Fair Share Tax creates a new maximum tax bracket for the highest earners to allow Virginia to invest in our public schools, affordable healthcare, and other state-funded resources. 

🔜 HB 1074 & HB 979 (which incorporates HB 188) have been CONTINUED to 2027. Look out for actions to take next year!

Full text: HB 1074 (Del. Hernandez) / HB 188 (Del. Convirs-Fowler) / HB 979 (Del. Watts)

OPPOSE

SB 756

Establish a Casino in Fairfax County

🔜 PENDING in Senate Committee

Full text: SB 756 (Sen. Surovell)

Education Equity

Education is a top 3 issue for Asian American voters. We support proposals that increase support for English language learners, mental health supports for students, and access to public education.

We are a proud member of the Fund Our Schools Coalition.

SUPPORT

HB 92

Funding for English Language Learners and other At-Risk students.

🥳 PASSED Committee and is now on its way to the House floor!

Full text: HB 92 (Del. Rasoul)

HB 38 / HB 495

Mental Health Awareness Training for school personnel to address the needs of high-risk youth.

🔜 PASSED the House and is now PENDING in Senate Committee.

🥳 PASSED Committee and is now on its way to the House floor!

Full text: HB 38 (Del. Henson) / HB 495 (Del. Guzman)

HB 912 / HB 836

Access to Public Education for students regardless of their immigration status. 

🥳 HB 836 (incorporated HB 912) PASSED committee and is now on its way to the House floor!

Full text: HB 912 (Del. Lopez) / HB 836 (Del. Rasoul)

HB 814 / SB 757

Establish an Advisory Board to advocate for the interests of ethnic minority groups in Virginia education, including AAPI, Black, Latine, & Indigenous communities.

🔜  HB 814 PENDING in House Subcommittee.

🥳  SB 757 PASSED in committee and is now on its way to the Senate floor!

Full text: HB 814 (Del. Reaser) / SB 757 (Sen. Srinivasan)

HB 614

Include Historically Marginalized Communities in Virginia’s history and social science standards, from immigrants to the LGBTQ+ community.

🥳 PASSED in committee and is now on its way to the House floor!

Full text: HB 614 (Del. Rasoul)

Immigrant Justice

We support proposals that protect our communities, like ending local and state law enforcement collaboration with ICE, shielding the federal administration from accessing data about immigrants for purposes of immigration enforcement, and banning face masks/coverings that perpetuate a culture of fear and intimidation.

We are a proud member of Virginia Coalition for Immigrants

SUPPORT

HB 1438 / HB 1441 / SB 738

End Law Enforcement Collaboration with ICE: Prohibit localities from entering into 287g Agreements with immigration enforcement which deputizes local officers and forces them to perform federal duties instead of focusing on keeping communities safe.

🥳 HB 1441 (incorporated HB1438) PASSED committee and is on its way to the House floor!

🥳 SB 738 PASSED committee and is on its way to the Senate floor!

Take action through Legal Aid Justice Center here.

Full text: HB 1438 (Del. Guzman) / HB 1441 (Del. Lopez) / SB 783 (Sen. Salim)

HB 1440 / HB 1442 / HB 650

Protected Locations: Prevents ICE officers from entering private areas without a warrant including government-operated sensitive locations, health facilities, schools, and polling places.

🥳 HB 650 (incorporated HB 1440 & HB 1442) PASSED in the House!

Full text: HB 1440 (Del. Lopez) / HB 1442 (Del. Lopez) / HB 650 (Del. Callsen)

HB 7 / HB 1482 / SB 352

Restrict Facial Coverings for Law Enforcement 

🔜 HB 7 is PENDING in the House Committee

🥳 HB 1482 PASSED in committee and is on its way to the House floor!

🥳 SB 352 PASSED the Senate floor and is on its way to the House!

Full text: HB 7 (Del. Jones) / HB 1482 (Del. Schmidt) / SB 352 (Sen. Salim)

HB 1260 / HB 650

Protect Public Schools from ICE without a warrant. Requires school administration to notify students and staff about ICE presence on public school grounds including elementary and secondary schools, and highered institutions.

🥳 HB 650 (also incorporated HB 1260) PASSED the House!

Full text: HB 1260 (Del. Shin) / HB 650 (Del. Callsen)

HB 650 / HB 1265 / SB 351

Prohibit Courthouse Arrests renamed Sensitive Locations Omnibus. Limits civil arrests (including immigration arrests) in local and state courthouses to ensure individuals who are trying to comply with the law are treated fairly.

🥳 HB 650 (also incorporated HB 1265) PASSED the House floor and is now on its way to the Senate!

🥳 SB 351 PASSED the Senate floor and is now on its way to the House!

Full text: HB 650 (Del. Callsen) / HB 1265 (Del. Glass) / SB 351 (Sen. Salim)

HB 911 / SB 446

Extend Validity of Driver Privilege Cards (DPC) from 2-years to 8-years to improve this system and remove this obstacle for immigrant workers.  

🔜 HB 911 PENDING in House Committee.

🥳 SB 446 PASSED the Senate floor and is now on its way to the House!

Full text: HB 911 (Del. Lopez) / SB 446 (Sen. McPike)

OPPOSE

HB 993

Bans Driver Privilege Cards Immigrants were barred from driving in Virginia until 2020 when DPC became available. This bill would set Virginia back and deny immigrant workers from getting and keeping employment, and further burden their families. 

🥳 This bill has been killed!

Full text: HB 993 (Del. Garrett)

Reproductive Justice

75% of Asian American voters reported support for abortion access. We support proposals that enable all Virginians to make decisions regarding their own reproductive healthcare without government interference and not face criminal punishment for providing healthcare.

We are a proud member of Virginians for Reproductive Freedom.

SUPPORT

HJ 1 / SJ 1

Constitutional Amendment for Reproductive Freedom: To protect our freedom in Virginia to make reproductive health care decisions.  

🥳 PASSED! Look out for this on you ballot in November 2026!

Full text: HJ 1 (Del. Herring) / SJ 1 (Boysko)

HB 6

Right to Contraception: Patients and their health care providers have a right to access and engage in contraception without government interference. 

🔜 PASSED the House and is PENDING in Senate Committee

Full text: HB 6 (Del. Price)