NFIB State Director Julia Hammond said today that preserving Virginia’s right-to-work law will be the small business advocacy organization’s No. 1 priority during the 2026 session of the General Assembly, which gets underway on Wednesday, Jan. 14.

“Some people say right-to-work is anti-union, but that’s not true,” Hammond said. “It simply means no one should be forced to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment.”

Virginia’s right-to-work law protects employees’ freedom of choice while helping create a business climate that supports job growth, she said.

“Virginia consistently ranks among the top states for business, and right-to-work has been essential to that success,” Hammond said. “Our right-to-work laws protect workers’ freedom to choose whether to join a union while also sending a clear signal that Virginia is open for business.”

NFIB is part of the Keep Virginia Working campaign, which advocates for policies that protect worker freedom and promote economic prosperity. Hammond said the coalition partners will work closely with legislators during the 2026 General Assembly session to oppose any effort to repeal or weaken Virginia’s right-to-work law.

“Right-to-work means exactly that: You have a right to work,” Hammod said. “Preserving it would help Virginia stay competitive and create more opportunities for Main Street businesses.”