AARP Virginia has announced its 2026 legislative priorities, with volunteer advocates set to press lawmakers when the General Assembly convenes on January 14. The agenda focuses on reducing prescription drug prices, establishing paid family and medical leave, and enhancing protections for older residents. Key proposals include creating a board to cap high-cost medication payments and streamlining access to home care services.
AARP Virginia's volunteer advocates plan to lobby state lawmakers as the General Assembly begins its session on January 14, pushing for measures to address key challenges faced by older residents and caregivers.
At the top of the agenda is lowering prescription drug costs. The organization backs a bill to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board empowered to set upper payment limits on select high-cost drugs. This initiative would build on recent federal reforms enabling Medicare to negotiate reduced prices, extending those benefits to Virginians outside Medicare. "Too many people can’t afford lifesaving medications because the confusing prescription drug pipeline prioritizes profit over patients," stated Jim Dau, AARP Virginia State Director. He emphasized the need for fairness, adding, "We are working hard to put fairness and accountability into the system because medication only works if people can afford it." Additional strategies include boosting transparency in the drug supply chain, promoting bulk purchasing, and regulating pharmacy benefit managers.
The group also seeks paid family and medical leave, noting that over 1.5 million Virginians—about a quarter of the adult population—act as caregivers, with 57% employed. Broader priorities encompass streamlining Medicaid eligibility for home and community-based services, mandating adequate staffing and accountability in nursing homes, and codifying the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act to update advanced care planning laws.
Further items include equalizing age discrimination protections under the Virginia Human Rights Act, raising the minimum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit from $23 to $50 monthly, and reducing the employee threshold for Virginia’s RetirePath retirement savings program from 25 to five. Housing efforts involve extending the renter pay-or-quit period from five to 14 days, empowering localities to negotiate affordable units in new assisted living projects, and ensuring the affordable housing supply matches demand.
