Neighbors,
It is my honor to represent our community in the Virginia House of Delegates – We are halfway through the 407th legislative session and I look forward to continuing to hear from you about your priorities and to advocating for our community in the General Assembly.
In this newsletter, I’ve included the following updates:
- Potomac Water Advisory
- VDOT’s Winter Weather Response
- Town Halls
- Inauguration of Governor Abigail Spanberger, Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, and Attorney General Jay Jones
- Legislative Updates
- Nominating Speaker Don Scott for a Second Term
- Constitutional Amendments
- Introducing Groups on the House Floor
- Legislative Meetings
As always, let me know if you have questions or need assistance by calling my office at (804) 698-1018 or emailing me at DelKTran@house.virginia.gov.
Best, Kathy
POTOMAC WATER ADVISORY
The Virginia Department of Health has issued a recreational advisory for portions of the Potomac River following recent sewage spills. In response, I released the statement above on social media.
There is no evidence of impacts to drinking water at this time. I encourage everyone to follow public health guidance and stay alert for official updates.
Read more about VDH’s recreational advisory here.
VDOT’s WINTER WEATHER RESPONSE
I hope you have kept warm and safe through the significant winter weather we have experienced over the last few weeks. I appreciate the hard work of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews to help us stay safe and recover from the storms. However, like many of you, I was concerned and frustrated by the uneven and incomplete snow removal after the January storm in the 18th House District
I sent two letters to the Commissioner of VDOT and followed-up with a meeting with Deputy Secretary for Transportation Carter Hutchinson and VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich to discuss my concerns. I will continue to liaise with them and push for improvements.
TOWN HALLS
Many thanks to everyone for sharing their priorities during our town halls this year! We had over 100 constituents and neighbors at our South County Delegation Town Hall with Senator Scott A. Surovell and Delegate Rozia A. Henson Jr.
Additionally, it was great to see constituents and neighbors throughout Fairfax County at the Fairfax County Delegation’s Annual Pre-Session Public Hearing and the Virginia Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus Session Kick-Off Town Hall and Post-Crossover Virtual Town Hall. I value hearing from you and encourage you to reach out with your input to legislation under consideration this session.
INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR ABIGAIL SPANBERGER, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GHAZALA HASHMI, AND ATTORNEY GENERAL JAY JONES
It was a pleasure to attend the inauguration of Governor Abigail Spanberger, Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, and Attorney General Jay Jones. I was honored to be appointed to their Inauguration Committee and I look forward to working with them to deliver for families in our community and across the Commonwealth.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Nominating Speaker Don Scott for a Second Term
I had the honor of nominating Speaker Don Scott for a second term as Speaker of the House of Delegates. Speaker Scott leads with empathy, humility, resolve, and an unwavering commitment to deliver results for the people we serve. You can see my nomination speech here.
Constitutional Amendments
The House of Delegates and State Senate have passed four significant proposed constitutional amendments aimed at safeguarding our fundamental rights and reinforcing our democracy. I was proud to join Governor Spanberger for the signing of House Joint Resolution 4.
Below is a brief overview of each amendment — These amendments will appear on the ballot later this year, giving Virginians the opportunity to make their voices heard:
- House Joint Resolution 1 (HJ 1) and Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJ1) would enshrine reproductive freedom and protect access to contraception, abortion care, IVF, prenatal and postpartum care, miscarriage management, and infertility treatment.
- House Joint Resolution 2 (HJ 2) and Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJ2) would guarantee the right to vote for all eligible citizens and automatically restore voting rights for returning citizens.
- House Joint Resolution 3 (HJ 3) and Senate Joint Resolution 3 (SJ3) would remove Virginia’s outdated constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and affirmatively protect marriage equality.
- House Joint Resolution 4 (HJ 4) would provide an exception to redraw congressional districts and give Virginians an opportunity to maximize our representation in Congress, while ensuring Virginia’s bipartisan redistricting process will resume after the 2030 census.
While HJ 1/SJ 1, HJ 2/SJ 2, and HJ 3/SJ 3 will appear on the ballot in November of this year, Virginians will vote on HJ 4 in a statewide special election on Tuesday, April 21. You can verify your registration status, find your polling place, or apply to vote absentee, by visiting the Virginia Department of Elections’ website here.
Below are key dates for the April 21 special election:
- Voter Registration Deadline: April 14th
- Early Voting: March 6th, 2026 through April 18th
- Deadline to request an absentee ballot: April 10th at 5:00 p.m.
- Election Day Voting: Tuesday, April 21st (polls open 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
Introducing Groups on the House Floor
I have enjoyed welcoming guests from across our community to the Gallery of the House of Delegates to observe our daily session. You can click on the links below to view my introductions from the House Floor:
- NOVA RAFT and Fresh Start, which is helping Afghan refugees resettle in Northern Virginia,
- Church World Service, a refugee resettlement organization
- A Ukrainian delegation working to protect children and strengthen democracy amid war; and
- CRi (Choice, Respect, and Independence) which provides personalized, professional support to adults with developmental disabilities and youth who have aged out of foster care.
Legislative Meetings
I am proud to work alongside constituents, advocates, and stakeholders to advance legislation that helps create a more affordable, secure, and resilient Virginia. If you are in Richmond, I hope you will consider stopping by my office!
President Gregory Washington from George Mason University.
Fairfax County Supervisor Andres Jimenez
SEIU, including my constituent Sarah
Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations and Springfield American Legion Post 176, including my constituents Kevin, Mike, and Judy.
Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, including my constituent Emily
The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia, including my constituents Susan and Matt.
Fairfax County Council of PTAs, including constituents from Irving Middle School PTA
Moms Demand Action, including my constituents Mary and Lew.
Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association
The Virginia Promise Partnership
The Medical Society of Virginia
Church World Service
Health Care for All Coalition
Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Collette McEachin and advocates with the YWCA
Children’s Home Society of Virginia
My staff and I also met with representatives from:
Wildlife Corridor Interagency Implementation Group
AARP Virginia
Acupuncture Society of Virginia (ASVA)
Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute
The Arc of Northern Virginia
American Heart Association
American Kidney Fund
ArtsFairfax
ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation
Autism Society of Central Virginia
Ballard Health
Bipartisan Policy Center
Brain Injury Alliance
Brain Injury Association of Virginia
The Campaign for Fairer Gambling
Chamber of Progress
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Virginia
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Coalition for a National Infrastructure Bank
City of Bristol
City of Richmond
The Conservation Fund
Consumer Direct Care Network Virginia
The COSHAR Healthy Communities Foundation
Data Center Reform Coalition
Day of All People
Donate Life Virginia
Dreamers’ Mother In Action
Edu-Futuro
Electrification Coalition
enCircle
Environmental Working Group
Fairfax County Democratic Committee – 50+ Caucus
Fairfax County Firefighters, IAFF Local 2068
Fairfax Education Association
First Flight Society
The Food is Medicine Coalition
Friends of the Rappahannock
Fund Our Schools Coalition
The Future Farmers of America
Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Workers
Groups Recover Together
The Humanization Project
Inova Health
International Rescue Committee in Virginia
James River Association
James Madison University
Jewish Community Relations Committee
Justice Forward
Legal Aid Justice Center
The Liberal Gun Club
Medical Society of Virginia
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce
MOVE Chamber
National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
National Association Against iGaming
National Caucus of Environmental Legislators
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice
New Virginia Majority
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Northern Virginia Community College
Northern Virginia Family Services
Ophelia
Pathway Homes
Postpartum Support Virginia
Radford University
Rare Access Action Project
Rx Partnership
Salesforce
ServiceSource
Service Dogs of Virginia
Shineforth
Southwest Regional Recreation Authority
Specially Adapted Resource Clubs (SPARC)
Speech-Language and Hearing Association of Virginia
St. Marys Home for Disabled Children
The Links
Ultragenyx
United Campus Workers of Virginia
vaACCSESS
VirginiaForever
Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists
Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants
Virginians Advocating for Seniors
Virginia Apartment Management Association
Virginia Assisted Living Association
Virginia Association of Behavior Analysis (VABA)
Virginia Association of Community-Based Providers
Virginia Association of Hematologists and Oncologists
Virginia Association of Personal Care Providers
Virginia Association of Recovery Residences
Virginia Bankers Association
Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation
Virginia Business Higher Education Council
Virginia Business Roundtable on Early Childhood Education
Virginia Citizens Defense League
Virginia Coalition for Human Rights
Virginia Commissioner of Revenue Association
Virginia Community Health Worker Association
Virginia Conservation Network
Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action
Virginia Credit Union Association
Virginia Distributed Solar Alliance
Virginia Fentanyl and Substance Awareness
Virginia Good Governance Coalition
Virginia Grassroots Coalition
Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority
Virginia Humanities
Virginia Farm Bureau
Virginia Forestry Association
Virginia Maritime Association
Virginia Occupational Therapy Association
Virginia Pro-Life Day
Virginia Property Rights Alliance
Virginia Public Health Association
Virginia Sea Grant
Virginia Service Foundation
Virginia Spaceport Authority