By Courtenay Schwartz, Policy Director, Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
The Action Alliance’s New Laws Report 2026 breaks down every major legislative win for sexual and domestic violence survivors from Virginia’s 2026 General Assembly session, including closing the “boyfriend loophole,” blocking firearm transfers by people under protective orders, new paid sick and family leave, stronger stalking protections, easier lease termination for survivors, expanded financial assistance and Virginia Victims Fund coverage, an easier path to substantial risk orders, a simplified divorce process, and $3 million a year in new state funding for victim services. Most of these laws take effect July 1, 2026
Greetings, advocates and policy wonks!
2026 was an exciting policy year for sexual and domestic violence advocates, survivors, and allies across Virginia, and we’ve packaged everything you need to know into one place: our New Laws Report 2026.
Virginia entered the year with a Democratic “trifecta,” with Democrats controlling the governorship, the Senate, and the House of Delegates. That gave legislators substantial room to advance new policy, though it didn’t erase every divide. Some of the most hotly debated campaign issues of the year, including reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, and the expansion of workers’ rights, made it through the legislative process. All three areas have direct implications for our field, and all three are covered in the report.
What’s Inside the New Laws Report 2026
Our field saw several significant legislative victories this year, and the report walks through each one in plain language, including:
- Closing the “boyfriend loophole” in Virginia’s firearm laws
- Blocking firearm transfers by anyone subject to a protective order to a person prohibited from possessing a firearm
- Establishing paid medical, family, and sick leave for Virginia workers
- Strengthening the stalking statute to better protect victims
- Easing early lease termination for survivors of sexual and domestic violence
- Expanding financial assistance access for people with a family abuse protective order
- Expanding Virginia Victims Fund coverage to include victims of strangulation
- Broadening the process for obtaining a substantial risk order
- Simplifying the divorce process in Virginia
Each win closes a real gap that survivors and advocates have flagged for legislators’ session after session, representing years of advocacy. The full report breaks down who each law protects, what each law changes, and what advocates need to do differently starting July 1.
How the State Budget Fight Affected Victim Services Funding
Behind the scenes, a separate fight over the state budget nearly derailed the whole process: whether Virginia should continue offering a large sales-and-use tax exemption to the data center industry, and under what conditions. The Senate pushed to end the exemption years ahead of its scheduled expiration. Senate Democrats and the Governor argued the state was forgoing billions in revenue that could fund state and local priorities instead.
As of this writing, that dispute appears resolved. For our field, the outcome matters a great deal: sexual assault and domestic violence victim services agencies were allocated $3 million per year for two years (FY26-27 and FY27-28). That funding will be essential for stabilizing services as agencies face federal funding cuts and ongoing uncertainty. While it’s a compromise between the $6 million originally requested in the House budget and the $0 included in the Senate’s version, it’s a real, recurring investment in survivor services at a moment when it’s badly needed. The report covers this funding outcome and its implications for agencies in the future.
Thank You, Advocates
None of this happens without you. Your sustained, passionate advocacy with elected representatives, and beyond, is what moves legislation forward in the General Assembly. We are deeply grateful for it.
Have feedback, questions, or want to get more involved in our policy work? Reach our policy team directly at policy@vsdvalliance.org.
Stay Informed and Get Involved
Want to know when the next bill is moving, when your legislator needs to hear from you, or when a public comment period opens? Sign up for our Action Alerts to get timely updates on Virginia policy affecting survivors and the moments when your voice can make a real difference.
You can also support this work directly by becoming an Action Alliance member or making a donation to the Action Alliance. Both fuel the advocacy that made the wins in this report possible and help us keep showing up for survivors in the General Assembly year after year.
Onward!
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