General Assembly In Session
Address
- 201 North 9th Street
Richmond VA 23219
Hours During Interim
- 8:30am – 5:00pm
Hours During Legislative Session
- 7:00am – 5:00pm, or upon adjournment of the last legislative meeting
General Assembly members and staff are in the General Assembly Building, located at 201 North 9th, Richmond, Virginia 23219. The General Assembly Building houses the individual offices for the 140 members of the General Assembly, as well as committee rooms and offices for legislative staff.
Individuals and groups visiting the General Assembly Building may enter the building through the Darden Garden entrance, which faces Capitol Square. Throughout the year, this is the main entrance for the general public, credentialed state employees, and lobbyists. In addition, the Broad Street entrance will be accessible to the public whenever the General Assembly is in session.
A tunnel that connects the Capitol and General Assembly Buildings is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The entrances to the tunnel for walking between buildings are located on the 2nd level of the Capitol Visitor’s Center and the lower level of the General Assembly Building.
To ensure the safety of employees and visitors, all non-credentialed visitors are required to pass through a magnetometer and have their carry-on items screened by an X-ray machine before entry to the building. Please note that all packages and bags are subject to physical search.
Regular Session
The General Assembly meets annually, beginning on the second Wednesday in January, for 60 days in even-numbered years and for 30 days in odd-numbered years, with an option to extend annual sessions for a maximum of 30 days. Short sessions have typically been 45 days. The Senate of Virginia and the Virginia House of Delegates, both bodies of the Virginia Legislature, meet in the historic, working Capitol building in Richmond, Virginia.
Special Session
The Governor may call a special session when deemed necessary or advisable, and must do so upon petition by two-thirds of the members of both houses.
Reconvened Session
A reconvened session is held on the sixth Wednesday after adjournment of each regular or special session for the purpose of considering the governor’s recommendations and vetoed legislation. If that week falls on a religious holiday, it will reconvene the following Wednesday. Reconvened sessions usually last one day, and not longer than three days.