RICHMOND, VA – A new proposal before the Virginia General Assembly would officially rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, recognizing Native Americans alongside the state’s existing Yorktown Victory Day observance.
House Bill 858, sponsored by Delegates Cousins and Delaney, was prefiled on January 13 and formally introduced on January 14 for the 2026 session. The measure, which amends Section 2.2-3300 of the Virginia Code, is awaiting committee referral.
If enacted, the legislation would revise the current language establishing the second Monday in October as Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day, replacing it with Columbus Day Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Yorktown Victory Day. The updated designation would honor Christopher Columbus, Indigenous peoples residing in the Commonwealth, and the decisive Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown in 1781.
The proposal aligns Virginia with a growing number of states and localities across the nation that have moved to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an alternative or addition to Columbus Day. Supporters argue the change acknowledges the history, culture, and contributions of Native Americans, while maintaining recognition of Columbus and Yorktown’s historic significance.
Virginia’s list of legal holidays currently includes Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, among others. The second Monday in October would continue as a state holiday under the revised name.
House Bill 858 would amend Virginia’s holiday code to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day while preserving Yorktown Victory Day.