Virginia Lawmakers Push to Remove Confederate Symbols from State

Bills aim to strip tax exemptions from Confederate groups and eliminate state song with slavery references

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Virginia General Assembly is advancing legislation to remove Confederate symbols from state law, including eliminating the state song "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" and stripping tax exemptions from Confederate organizations like the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Supporters say the measures are needed to address the state's problematic Civil War legacy, while opponents argue the bills infringe on citizens' rights.

Why it matters

The push to remove Confederate iconography in Virginia reflects a broader national reckoning over how states and localities should address symbols tied to slavery and the Confederacy. This legislative effort could set a precedent for other states grappling with similar debates over their historical legacies.

The details

Key bills include removing "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" as the state song emeritus, taking down three Confederate statues on Capitol Square, retiring specialty license plates for the Sons of Confederate Veterans and Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and targeting tax-exempt status for Confederate groups like the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Supporters argue the measures are needed to modernize Virginia's laws, while opponents claim the bills infringe on citizens' rights and amount to "viewpoint discrimination" against Confederate heritage.

  • The Virginia General Assembly is currently advancing these bills in its 2026 legislative session.
  • Former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin previously vetoed similar bills in recent years.

The players

Sen. Adam Ebbin

The Democratic senator from Alexandria who sponsored the bill to remove "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" as the state song emeritus.

Del. Dan Helmer

The Democratic delegate from Fairfax who introduced a bill to retire specialty license plates for the Sons of Confederate Veterans and Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Del. Alex Askew

The Democratic delegate who proposed legislation targeting the tax-exempt status of Confederate organizations like the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Julie N. Hardaway

The President General of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, who criticized Askew's bill as "viewpoint discrimination" that "blatantly targets 'Confederate' organizations".

Gov. Abigail Spanberger

The current Democratic governor of Virginia, who sponsors hope will sign the Confederate symbol removal bills unlike former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

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What they’re saying

“We realized how offensive it was, or acknowledged how offensive it was, before I even got to the General Assembly, and it was designated as the song emeritus. And I just don't think it should be in the code.”

— Sen. Adam Ebbin, Democratic Senator from Alexandria (wtkr.com)

“His celebration is an artifact of a lost cause effort by Virginia to try to restate the cause of the Confederacy in the wake of the Civil War, leading up to Jim Crow and suppression of Black voters.”

— Del. Dan Helmer, Democratic Delegate from Fairfax (wtkr.com)

“Passage of this bill will set a precedent to open the door for other valuable historical museums to lose tax-exempt status and opens wide the door for legal action. Is this simply a test case before moving on to bigger and better targets, including churches? To target any group who does not conform to the delegate's way of thinking is un-American.”

— Julie N. Hardaway, President General, United Daughters of the Confederacy (wtkr.com)

What’s next

The bills will next go to votes in the full Virginia General Assembly, where they are expected to pass with Democratic majorities. If signed into law by Gov. Spanberger, the measures would take effect later in 2026.

The takeaway

Virginia's efforts to remove Confederate symbols from state law and strip tax exemptions from related organizations reflect a broader national reckoning over how states should address their problematic historical legacies. The outcome of these bills could set an important precedent for other states grappling with similar debates.