Photo of Stella Pekarsky
D Virginia Senate · District 36

Sen. Stella Pekarsky

Compare
Total votes
11,749
all sessions
Attendance
99%
126 missed
Near the chamber average
With party
99%
of cast votes
Near the chamber average
Bipartisan score
0%
crosses aisle rarely
Lower than 77% of chamber peers
Sponsored
314
bills & resolutions
Lower than 97% of chamber peers
Committees
4
assignments
314 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
314
Primary
94
Co-sponsor
220
This page
314
matching current filters
Co-sponsor SB 2
Vetoed · Virginia Senate · Co-sponsor
Paid family and medical leave insurance program; definitions, notice requirements, civil action.

Paid family and medical leave insurance program; notice requirements; civil action. Requires the Virginia Employment Commission to establish and administer a paid family and medical leave insurance program with benefits beginning April 1, 2028. Under the program, benefits are paid to covered individuals, as defined in the bill, for family and medical leave. Funding for the program is provided through premiums assessed to employers and employees beginning April 1, 2028. The bill provides that the amount of a benefit is 80 percent of the employee's average weekly net earnings, not to exceed 100 percent of the statewide average weekly net earnings, which amount is required to be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the statewide average weekly wage. The bill caps the duration of paid leave at 12 weeks in any application year and provides self-employed individuals the option of participating in the program. This bill is identical to HB 1207.

Vetoed Apr 13, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 351
Vetoed · Virginia Senate · Co-sponsor
Courthouses; certain civil arrests prohibited, penalty.

Prohibiting certain acts in furtherance of federal immigration enforcement in certain protected areas; exceptions; penalties. Prohibits certain federal civil immigration enforcement activities in certain protected areas including any courthouse, within 40 feet of any polling place or building used as a meeting place for the local electoral board while the electoral board meets to ascertain the results of an election, and any place or facility owned by the Commonwealth that is a hospital or other health care facility, a school or public institution of higher education, or an office of the attorney for the Commonwealth. The bill prohibits any civil arrest in a courthouse pursuant to a civil administrative warrant, subject to certain exceptions such as service or enforcement of an order for failure to pay child support or for any arrest occurring in connection with a court proceeding that is taking place or is scheduled to take place. The bill provides that such provisions shall not apply when such arrest is authorized by a judicial warrant or judicial subpoena. The bill also authorizes a local school board to include in its written school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plan a procedure for notifying school board employees and parents of enrolled students of the presence of certain individuals on school property for immigration investigation or enforcement purposes. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to adopt a policy that requires an individual present on campus to investigate compliance with, enforce, or assist in an investigation or enforcement of any federal immigration law to present a valid judicial warrant or judicial subpoena before accessing any nonpublic area of the campus. This bill is identical to HB 650.

Vetoed Apr 12, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary SB 258
Vetoed · Virginia Senate · Lead sponsor
Virginia Human Rights Act; reasonable accommodation for known limitations related to menopause.

Virginia Human Rights Act; menopause or perimenopause; discrimination prohibited; report. Prohibits discrimination under the Virginia Human Rights Act on the basis of menopause or perimenopause for purposes of nondiscrimination in government programs, public accommodation, employment hiring, and reasonable employer accommodation. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Labor and Industry, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to conduct a study on menopause and perimenopause in the workforce, menopause and perimenopause accommodations in employment environments, and the scope of existing menopause-related and perimenopause-related policies and to develop best practices related to menopause and perimenopause accommodations in employment environments. The bill directs the Commissioners to submit such report to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1, 2028, and to post such report on the Department of Labor and Industry's website. This bill is identical to HB 1173.

Vetoed Apr 11, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Primary SB 107
Vetoed · Virginia Senate · Lead sponsor
Jury service; exemptions upon request, certain caretakers of persons with serious health conditions.

Exemptions from jury service upon request; certain caretakers of persons with serious health conditions. Adds as persons who may be exempt from jury service upon request (i) a person with legal custody of and responsible for the care of a child under 18 years of age who has a serious health condition and (ii) the familial caretaker, defined in the bill, of a person with a serious health condition.

Vetoed Apr 11, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 176
Vetoed · Virginia Senate · Co-sponsor
Elections; ranked choice voting, locally elected offices, report.

Elections; conduct of election; ranked choice voting; locally elected offices; report. Expands the option to use ranked choice voting from only elections for county board of supervisors and city councils to any local governing body. The bill requires the State Board of Elections to provide standards and to approve vote tabulating software for use with existing voting systems in elections conducted by ranked choice voting. The bill provides for copying damaged or defective ballots that cannot be properly counted by electronic voting systems. The bill allows localities to request risk-limiting audits of elections conducted using ranked choice voting and provides that no such election may be included in any random drawing required to satisfy the general requirements for risk-limiting audits. The bill specifies that the State Board is required to produce generalized voter education materials on ranked choice voting and is also permitted to create and modify recount procedures to the extent necessary to accommodate a recount of an election. The bill directs the Department of Elections to review the testing and approval framework for voting equipment in the Commonwealth and submit a report of such review no later than the first day of the 2027 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Finally, the bill repeals the 2031 expiration of the option to use ranked choice voting in elections, making such option permanent. This bill is identical to HB 630.

Vetoed Apr 11, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 783
Vetoed · Virginia Senate · Co-sponsor
Law-enforcement agencies; agreements with federal authority for immigration enforcement.

Law-enforcement agencies; agreements with federal authority for immigration enforcement; requirements. Prohibits any state or local law-enforcement agency, defined in the bill, from maintaining, renewing, or entering into any federal immigration agreement unless such agreement contains certain provisions. The bill also prohibits any person acting in his capacity as a law-enforcement officer to assist, cooperate with, or use any law-enforcement resources to facilitate any operation that seeks to identify, arrest, or otherwise impose a penalty upon an individual for any violation of federal civil immigration law. The bill provides that such prohibition shall not apply (i) if the authority to enforce such laws is otherwise permitted or required by law; (ii) if the person acting in his capacity as a law-enforcement officer is presented with a valid judicial warrant or judicial subpoena that authorizes such enforcement; or (iii) to the transfer of custody of an adult convicted of certain violent felonies from a state, local, or regional correctional facility upon such correctional facility's receipt of a federal immigration detainer. This bill is identical to HB 1441.

Vetoed Apr 11, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HJ 206
Passed · Virginia House of Delegates · Co-sponsor
Commending the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association for its contributions to the state's healthcare system. It does not change laws, allocate funds, or create new regulations, but instead serves as an official commendation. The measure was passed by both the House and Senate through voice votes without requiring a formal ballot. This type of legislation is ceremonial and does not have direct policy impact on healthcare operations or funding.

Passed Apr 9, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HJ 185
Passed · Virginia House of Delegates · Co-sponsor
Celebrating the life of Jane Pasolli Edmondson.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HJ 185) honoring Jane Pasolli Edmondson, recognizing her contributions to the community. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, programs, or individuals through legislative action. The resolution passed both chambers of the legislature in March 2026 as a formal tribute. It serves solely to commemorate her life and legacy without any substantive policy impact.

Passed Apr 9, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HJ 182
Passed · Virginia House of Delegates · Co-sponsor
Celebrating the life of Jane Kamps Strauss.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HJ 182) honors the life and contributions of Jane Kamps Strauss through a formal legislative expression of respect. It does not create any new laws, policies, or obligations, nor does it affect any individuals or groups beyond the ceremonial recognition. The measure passed unanimously in both the House and Senate in March 2026, as documented in its legislative actions. It is a standard commemorative resolution with no substantive policy impact.

Passed Apr 9, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HJ 140
Passed · Virginia House of Delegates · Co-sponsor
Celebrating the life of J. Hamilton Lambert.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HJ 140) is a ceremonial resolution honoring J. Hamilton Lambert. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, people, or programs. The resolution formally expresses the legislature's respect for Lambert's life and legacy. It passed both chambers as a symbolic gesture with no practical impact beyond the legislative record.

Passed Apr 9, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Showing 31 to 40 of 314 bills
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