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Session 2025 Resources

Like you, we’ve been laying the foundation for transformative change, rooted in community and steadfast in our values so that we can be responsive to, but not deterred by, what is happening around us. We are dreaming and working for a better future, while also doing the work to reduce harm and help stop destructive policy proposals. And we will continue to build on our hard-won progress at the state level — where we know that our work has and will protect people across Virginia — and build a more just commonwealth.

Our overall priorities remain consistent, anchored by our “Collective Agenda for Virginia’s Future.” However, we adapt based on community feedback, and the opportunities to advance these critical priorities vary from year to year. This is not an exhaustive list of our efforts or resources. We are proud to be part of a network of advocates working to advance racial and economic justice from various angles.

This session, we are working to:

a crowd of people gather together at a rally, most wearing red. a person holds up a sign that says "invest in the future"

Invest in All of Us through a Robust Budget and Fair Tax Code

Our state budget shows who and what we value. It is a critical tool for advancing policies that will meaningfully dismantle barriers for people of color and families with low incomes across the state. There are two sides to these important budget decisions: how we raise money and how we spend it.

Below, you will find some overview resources on budget and tax issues that elected officials and advocates are discussing this session. Since the state budget affects everything we care about, you’ll find issue-specific budget information throughout the other sections.

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Every student in Virginia, no matter who they are or where they come from, deserves the opportunity to attend a high-quality public school, where they can feel supported and thrive. Unfortunately, Virginia is far from doing what it can and must to create those high-quality schools. The state must fully fund our schools to remove barriers to a high-quality education, providing adequate resources so that schools can hire the staff and provide the programs our students need.

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Create Greater Economic Opportunity

We are the economy, and our economy will only do well when we have the resources to thrive, such as strong wages, the ability to care for our children, a voice on the job, and proven tax policies that support families who are struggling the most. We’ve made critical progress in the past, and together, we can build on our recent accomplishments to advance policies that create greater economic opportunity and allow families to thrive.

Resources

a young child uses a toy stethoscope and thermometer to care for a large teddy bear

Support Safe and Healthy Communities

Whether we’re Black, white, or brown, living in a small town or a big city, we want our families to be whole and our communities to be vibrant. To support safe and healthy families and communities, we must remove barriers to good health and invest in the programs and services our communities need most. Virginia has made great progress in connecting people to health care in the last few years. State policymakers can protect Virginia’s progress this session in a multitude of ways, including protecting Medicaid expansion and broadening access to critical care.

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Reform Laws that Punish Poverty and Exacerbate Racial Injustice

Our justice system should treat everyone fairly. Yet many people accused of crimes face unjust penalties based on their race or wealth. Courts impose excessive fines and fees that many can’t afford, locking people into cycles of debt. This occurs with unparalleled intensity in Black communities. People who are unable to afford counsel often navigate the initial stages of their defense alone and face steeper costs or longer jail time before their trial, impacting their ability to provide for their families. Together, we can make sure people are treated more fairly, and that justice does not depend on where you live or what you look like.

Resources

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